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what's on your tongue? how our tongue scraper can help keep it clean and healthy

what's on your tongue? how our tongue scraper can help keep it clean and healthy

Have you ever wondered what’s on your tongue? Why does it change colors? Why does it feel thicker and slimier when you wake up? What’s living on that cushy surface? You might be surprised to learn that hundreds of species of bacteria live on your tongue, doing their best to feed off the biofilm that develops between the times you complete your oral care routine. Oh, and not to mention, there are other microorganisms like yeasts and viruses that can also develop on your tongue, too! This is why it’s so important to prioritize tongue cleaning during your oral care routine. With products like plastic toothbrushes with a “tongue cleaner” on the opposite side of the bristles and mouthwashes that claim to kill 99% of germs, you might think these things are enough to keep your tongue clean and healthy. But we’re here to tell you that these methods simply aren’t enough (or in the case of mouthwash, they’re actually too much). We’re going to dive into the different things that live on your tongue and why tongue scraping (when combined with flossing and brushing with premium toothpaste) is one of the best ways to keep your tongue healthy and clean. Of course, we’ll also mention all of the things that make Davids the best tongue scraper out there. what’s on your tongue? In its simplest state, your tongue is covered with a soft pink tissue called the mucosa. Within the mucosa live tiny bumps called papillae, which house your taste buds. These taste buds contain tiny collections of nerve-like cells that allow your tongue to send messages to your brain. Your tongue’s mucosa is typically covered with a biofilm, a thick and gooey coating that feeds the bacteria in your mouth. Your oral microbiome (aka the ecosystem of your mouth) is home to up to 700 species of bacteria, many of which get cozy on your tongue. Because it has such a soft, porous surface, bacteria can easily penetrate and settle in. Interestingly, scientists have found that specific types of bacteria tend to settle on different areas of the tongue, creating little communities and neighborhoods.  In addition to bacteria, your tongue might be home to oral pathogens (bad bacteria or viruses) or yeast (also known as oral thrush or candida) which can create a white film on the surface of your tongue and often feel “cottony”. why use a tongue scraper to clean it? Biofilm regrows on your tongue daily, so it’s extremely important to address it during your oral care routine. Because your tongue is such a porous, absorbent surface, and biofilm is such a thick, sticky substance....brushing alone cannot effectively clean your tongue. This is where a tongue scraper comes in. Tongue scraping daily (we recommend doing it right after brushing with Davids) can help remove biofilm and stagnant bacteria from your tongue, refreshing your tongue and preventing unwanted oral conditions (such as bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay). Although scientists haven’t fully identified all of the hundreds of bacteria that live in our oral microbiomes, they still have strong reason to believe that some of these bacteria are actually beneficial. This is why we recommend tongue scraping over using a chemical mouthwash that “kills 99% of germs” and wipes other beneficial organisms along the way. Not to mention, those chemical mouthwashes can disrupt the pH of your mouth, create mouth sores, and cause uncomfortable burning sensations. When you use a tongue scraper, you don’t have to worry about these things. Tongue scraping is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that has been known to pose many benefits, some of which include: ridding of bad bacteria reducing your body’s toxic load stimulating your tissues and organs promoting digestion and gut health improving taste correcting bad breath And more. As you can see the benefits of tongue scraping extend beyond the mouth. Not to mention, it’s a sustainable, waste-free way to care for your oral and overall health. What an incredible way to sustain nature+you! what makes ours the best tongue scraper? With so many tongue scrapers on the market, we’re here to help you pick the best one. Here are some of the things that set the Davids tongue scraper apart from the rest. it’s stainless steel: why does this matter? Well, stainless steel is durable, non-toxic, dishwasher safe, and hypoallergenic. It won’t break or fray from everyday use, so you don’t have to worry about our tongue scraper developing sharp edges or getting messed up in the dishwasher. It’s made to last, so you have a sustainable, long-lasting tool for everyday tongue cleaning. it can single-handedly clean your mouth: (pun intended) while we don’t recommend an oral care routine with just tongue scraping alone (pair it with our  toothpaste and awesome bamboo toothbrush), we mean you can literally use our tongue scraper with one hand. Most tongue scrapers on the market have a two-handed arch design, making them kinda big and awkward to maneuver. Ours is smaller and easier to handle, allowing you to reach areas of your tongue that others simply wouldn’t get to (in a way that avoids activating your gag reflex). it’s designed and preferred by professionals: this unique design was made by dental professionals. No wonder it’s used as an example in dental schools! There you have it: an effective tongue scraper you can use (effortlessly, with one hand) over and over again. Your cleanest, freshest tongue is just around the corner. What are you waiting for? buy the best tongue scraper now.
benefits of a tongue scraper should I scrape my tongue before or after brushing? our top tips for you

should I scrape my tongue before or after brushing? our top tips for you

Whether you’ve never heard of tongue scraping before, or you’ve been using a tongue scraper for years...it can be confusing to determine the most effective order of operations for your oral care routine. Should I scrape my tongue before or after brushing? We’ve asked ourselves the same question a time or two. And lucky for you, we’ve found the answer. Follow along as we discuss the best time to use your tongue scraper + all of the amazing benefits it adds to your oral care routine. should I scrape my tongue before or after brushing? You’ll get maximum benefits if you scrape after brushing, especially when there’s still a bit of natural toothpaste left behind. Your tongue is full of cracks, grooves, and pores. So when you scrape your tongue after brushing, you allow the bacteria-fighting ingredients of our natural toothpaste to enter these spaces and begin cleaning. Then, you can use your tongue scraper to wipe away remaining food particles, residue, and bacteria for a deeper clean. Here are some additional tips regarding the order of your oral care routine. floss first: while most dentists will floss your teeth after cleaning, we recommend doing it before. When you floss, you’re dislodging particles and bacteria from the tiny crevices between your teeth. If you don’t brush after doing this, some of those particles and bacteria may remain in your mouth. Plus, when you floss before brushing, you allow your teeth to receive the maximum effect of your toothpaste. If you’re using our hydroxyapatite toothpaste, flossing first may allow those hydroxyapatite particles to better penetrate weakened areas and remineralize your enamel. brush with Davids: brushing with our effective natural toothpaste sets your mouth up for the perfect tongue scraping. It covers your mouth with bacteria-fighting, teeth-whitening, and enamel-restoring ingredients, leaving your mouth fresh and primed for tongue scraping. use your tongue scraper: as explained above, tongue scraping after brushing sets you up for maximum benefits (which we discuss in the next section). finish with natural mouthwash: when you finish with natural mouthwash (especially one fortified with hydroxyapatite), you allow the ingredients to penetrate and nourish your freshly cleaned teeth. Oh, and stay tuned for an exciting announcement from us about natural mouthwash! One last pro tip: we recommend doing this entire routine first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything. This is because tons of bacteria form and fester in your mouth while you sleep, so if you wake up and take a big gulp of water, you might be swallowing harmful bacteria that could disrupt the balance of your gut microbiome. Avoid this by starting your day with a fresh mouth.  why use a tongue scraper? The benefits of a tongue scraper are undeniable. If you’re not already using one, here are a few great reasons to start! it clears bacteria, toxins, and dead cells from your tongue: this is perhaps the most obvious benefit, as tongue scraping removes residue and microorganisms from your tongue's surface. it can prevent bad breath: tongue scraping is one of the most effective ways to remove odor-causing particles from your tongue (especially the back of your tongue) it can enhance your sense of taste: tongue scraping cleanses and rejuvenates your taste buds. One study found that just two weeks of tongue scraping resulted in improved taste. it increases your overall health awareness: ancient Ayurveda claims that you can learn a lot about your current state of health by the appearance of your tongue. Conventional doctors also tend to follow this concept, which is why many doctors and dentists will ask you to stick out your tongue at the beginning of an exam. it can reduce your overall toxin load: dental Ayurveda also states that your tongue is directly connected to several of your vital organs. When you use a tongue scraper, you remove toxins from your tongue while stimulating the tissue, which does the same for the connected organs. The result? You help your organs detox and restore balance. it can improve your digestion: your mouth is the window to your gut, and reducing the amount of bad bacteria in your mouth does the same for your gut, allowing the good bacteria to flourish and promote good digestion. For a deeper dive into the benefits of tongue scraping, check out our previous article: why use a tongue scraper? 5 little known facts about its benefits. why Davids’ is the best tongue scraper Tongue scraping has been around for centuries, so there’s no shortage of tongue scraper options on the market. We’d like to explain some of the things that set ours apart from the rest. Our tongue scraper is the Tongue Sweeper Model P, which sports these amazing qualities. stainless steel construction: this model is dishwasher safe, hypoallergenic, BPA-free, and non-toxic. Unlike plastic and bamboo tongue scrapers, it’s extremely durable and will not break from everyday use. This high-quality metal will not show sharp edges like some copper and other low-quality metal options. dentist designed: the Tongue Sweeper is used as an example in dental schools! Its patented design is preferred by dental professionals. easy to use: unlike most tongue scrapers, it’s designed with a one-handed grip with a soft, curved head to reduce initiating the gag reflex and to promote overall ease of use. This model can be used by adults and children 5+ years of age, and you can even use it on your pets. Our tongue scraper is a safe, sustainable, and effective way to elevate + optimize your oral health. When you pair it with our natural toothpaste, it’s one of the best + easiest ways to start and end your day on the freshest possible note.   buy premium toothpaste now.

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