Use a tongue scraper morning and evening to clean the surface of the tongue, in order to eliminate bacteria and significantly improve overall oral hygiene.

noli's read

The use of a tongue scraper to clean the lingual surface is based on principles validated by wellness science. A systematic review by the Cochrane Collaboration (by Outhouse et al.) and a meta-analysis (Kuo et al.) demonstrate that this practice effectively reduces tongue coating and improves breath freshness, outperforming simple toothbrushing. Furthermore, a randomized clinical trial (Dwivedi et al.) confirms a decrease in superficial bacterial load, while another systematic review highlights an increase in taste bud sensitivity. However, asserting that this 'significantly' improves overall hygiene is an exaggeration, as oral hygiene associations classify it as a secondary and optional step compared to brushing and flossing. Clinical trial data (such as the study by Quirynen et al.) also remind us that the reduction of bacteria is very temporary, as the oral flora re-establishes itself quickly. Finally, cleaning too aggressively twice a day could disrupt beneficial oral bacteria that support the synthesis of nitric oxide, a key compound for cardiovascular vitality.

the sources

1. 1Garolla A, Torino M, Sartini B, et al. 2013
2. 2Gundersen TD, Jørgensen N, Andersson AM, et al. 2015
3. 3Blueprint Protocol (protocol.bryanjohnson.com, CC BY-NC)