Have you noted the recent rise in the popularity of tongue scrapers? Well, think it or not, tongue cleaning is a long way from a new trend. To feed your craving for an understanding of all things dental, here are some facts on the history of tongue cleaning.
In Indian medicine, also referred to as Ayurveda, tongue cleaning is endorsed as just one part of the hygiene routine. Tongue cleaning gets rid of foreign food remnants, also known as Ama. This practice has existed since long ago, and tongue scrapers in Ayurvedic practice are developed from materials like gold, silver, brass, and tin. Today, people in India also use plastic scrapers to rinse their tongues.
And India isn’t the only place to have practiced tongue cleaning for centuries: people from countries in Africa, South America, Europe and many other cultures have done tongue cleaning for many generations. Each of these peoples has special traditions when it comes to tongue cleaning, and the diverse substances used in their tongue cleaners include such things as ivory, tortoiseshell, and whalebone.
In the US, we generally place a lesser emphasis on the importance of tongue cleaning, but the benefits of a brighter tongue, a cleaner oral cavity and fresher breath can make the practice worth it. If you’d like to learn more about tongue cleaning, give our Concord, California, office a call now at 925-685-2286 to set up your next checkup. Dr. Eric Eidbo and the Oak Grove Dental team would be thrilled to support you in learning more.