According to Google’s trends, searches for “tongue scrapers” have almost doubled over the past 20 years. However, some experts have warned about potential risks.
The practice of tongue scraping (or tongue brushing) has been a means of dental health for hundreds of years.
Previous studies concluded that rubbing the tongue could improve taste sensation in two weeks, but some have raised concerns about potential heart health risks associated with practice.
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“There has always been a strong connection between oral hygiene and heart health,” Dr. Bradley Serwer, Intervention Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer at Vitalsolution, Ingenovis Health Company, told Fox Digital.
Previous studies linked normal tongues with improved tastes to tastes. (istock)
“Gingivitis or bad gingival infections are known to cause heart problems at many different levels,” says a Maryland-based doctor.
Despite potential benefits, Selwer and others warn of the lesser known cardiac risks associated with this practice.
What is tongue scraping?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, tongue scraping (or brushing) is the process of washing the tongue.
In addition to brushing with a toothbrush, certain tongue scraping tools (available at pharmacies for just $8) offer an easy way to remove plaque and other unnecessary buildups.
“Brushing is fine, but think about it like this. If the carpet is dirty and scrubs, the dirt will be embedded there,” said one dental hygienist. (istock)
Gentle tongue scraping, performed up to once a day, is recommended to help adults remove bacteria and breathe.
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“When patients ask, I usually recommend a metal tongue scraper because it’s great for keeping hygienic reasons clean,” Nevada-based White told Fox News Digital.
Another expert, Ohio-based dental hygienist Tenika Patterson, told Cleveland Clinic:
According to a dentist who spoke to Fox News Digital, metal tongue scrapers are perfect for hygiene purposes. (istock)
“Brushing is fine, but think about it like this. If the carpet is dirty and scrubs, the dirt will be embedded there,” she said.
“But if you rub it off, it will come straight from the surface.”
Links to heart health
A concern with tongue scraping is that it can cause “macroscopic cutting” on the tongue.
When bacteria enter the bloodstream, there is a higher risk of endocarditis, an infection with the heart valve.
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According to the Cleveland Clinic, if left untreated, endocarditis can cause severe heart damage.
Slip through the tongue can lower your body’s nitric oxide levels and increase the risk of problems like high blood pressure, experts warned. (istock)
While tongue scraping is good for oral health, it’s important not to overdo it, Dr. White advised.
Too much rinsing can lower your body’s nitric oxide levels and increase the risk of problems such as high blood pressure.
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“Mild and regular scraping helps to remove harmful bacteria, but if done too often or aggressively, it can destroy the good microbial balance of the tongue, some of which helps to produce nitric oxide, a compound important for heart health,” White said.
“It’s not an alternative.”
“The most important thing a person can do is stay on top of oral hygiene,” Selwah recommended.
“Regular visits to the dentist, brushing and flossing help to ensure healthy gums and teeth.”
Brushing teeth and floss can also introduce bacteria, but they are added to the benefits of maintaining healthy gums, experts agree. (istock)
Brushing teeth and floss can also introduce bacteria, but they are added to the benefits of maintaining healthy gums, experts agree.
In contrast, “the benefits of tongue rubbing are very minimal,” Selwer said.
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For those who want to continue scraping their tongues, White emphasized that there are often fewer.
“Your oral health is linked to your overall health, so it’s best to moderately shave your tongue to keep both your mouth and body in balance,” she advised.
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“But that’s not a necessary step in your oral health routine and isn’t a replacement for fluoride toothpaste and brushing twice a day with daily floss.”
