Why clean your tongue?
It happens on the tongue
When we talk about fresh breath, most people think of their teeth. But the surface of the tongue is one of the places in the mouth where bacteria thrive most, and where the toothbrush rarely reaches.
The tongue is a plush carpet
The upper side of the tongue is covered with thousands of tiny papillae. They give it its rough, velvety surface, and lots of small hollows where things can get stuck.
The surface
The papillae stand close together like the pile of a carpet. They are tallest and densest at the back of the tongue.
The coating
Food debris, dead cells and bacteria gather in a thin layer, often visible as a whitish or yellowish coating.
After cleaning
A few gentle strokes remove the loose layer from the surface, so the tongue feels smooth and clean.
Your breath
Where does bad breath come from?
In the vast majority of cases, bad breath starts in the mouth itself, not in the stomach, as many people think. Bacteria in the coating break down proteins from food debris and dead cells. In the process they produce volatile sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan. Those are what we smell.
Because the back of the tongue is warm, moist and rough, it is one of the places where most of these compounds form. That’s why you can have clean teeth and still wake up with heavy morning breath.
Mouthwash, sprays and mints can smell fresh, but the effect is short-lived. They mask the odour, they don’t remove the coating it comes from.
“Under a microscope, the tongue looks like a dirty plush carpet.”
From Ren Mund’s first brochure, 2005
What to expect
What a tongue cleaner can, and can’t, do
What many people notice
- Less coatingCleaning removes visible coating from the surface of the tongue. Many people find it both easier and more comfortable than brushing the tongue.
- Fresher breathStudies suggest that tongue cleaning can reduce bad breath, especially shortly after cleaning. The effect is greatest as a regular, daily habit.
- A cleaner feelingThe tongue feels smoother, and many people find that food and drink taste clearer.
What it isn’t
- Not a replacementTongue cleaning complements your toothbrush and floss, it doesn’t replace them.
- Not a treatmentPersistent bad breath can have other causes, such as gum disease, dry mouth or illness. Talk to your dentist or doctor.
- Not roughMore pressure doesn’t give a better result. Gentle strokes are enough, it should never hurt.
Ready for the third step?
See how OraSweet is shaped for the tongue, or buy it here.