Tongue Scraping for Better Dental Health: A Holistic Approach

 When it comes to dental care, brushing and flossing often take center stage. But have you ever considered the role your tongue plays in your oral health? I’ve discovered that incorporating this small step can make a big difference in how fresh your mouth feels and how healthy your teeth and gums stay. Let me walk you through why tongue scraping deserves a spot in your daily self-care ritual.

Why Tongue Scraping Matters for Your Oral Health

Your tongue is more than just a muscle for tasting and speaking. It’s a natural habitat for bacteria, food debris, and dead cells. Over time, this buildup can lead to bad breath, plaque formation, and even affect your sense of taste. Tongue scraping helps remove this unwanted layer, reducing bacteria and promoting a cleaner mouth environment.

Think of it as a gentle detox for your tongue. When you scrape your tongue, you’re physically removing the biofilm that brushing alone can’t reach. This can help prevent cavities and gum disease by lowering the overall bacterial load in your mouth. Plus, it leaves your breath noticeably fresher, which is a confidence booster in any social or professional setting.

Tongue Scraper

How to Incorporate Tongue Scraping Into Your Routine

Adding tongue scraping to your daily dental care is easy and quick. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get you started:

1.   Choose the right tool - Tongue scrapers come in various materials like stainless steel, copper, or plastic. Stainless steel and copper would be a primary choice for its durability and ease of cleaning.

2.   Start with a clean mouth - It’s best to scrape your tongue after brushing your tongue, ideally at the same time you brush your teeth.

3.   Extend your tongue - Stick your tongue out as far as comfortable.

4.   Scrape gently - Place the scraper at the back of your tongue and pull it forward in one smooth motion. Avoid pressing too hard to prevent irritation.

5.   Rinse and repeat - Rinse the scraper after each pass and repeat 3-5 times until the scraper comes out clean.

6.   Clean your scraper - Wash it thoroughly with warm water and soap after use.

This routine takes less than one minute but can have lasting benefits for your oral health.

The Science Behind Tongue Scraping and Oral Wellness

Research supports the benefits of tongue scraping in reducing oral bacteria and improving breath quality. Studies show that tongue scraping can significantly decrease volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which are the main culprits behind bad breath. By lowering these compounds, you’re not just masking odor but addressing the root cause.

Moreover, a cleaner tongue surface means fewer bacteria to transfer to your teeth and gums. This can reduce plaque buildup and the risk of gum disease. Some holistic dental experts even suggest that tongue scraping can enhance digestion by stimulating saliva production and improving taste sensation.

At The Brand Wellness Center, we emphasize such integrative practices because they align with our mission to promote overall wellness through advanced biological dentistry and naturopathic principles.

Stainless Steel Tongue Scraper

Tips for Maximizing the Benefits of Tongue Scraping

To get the most out of tongue scraping, consider these practical tips:

·         Be consistent - Make it a daily habit, ideally every morning or evening after you have brushed tour teeth and tongue.

·         Stay gentle - Avoid aggressive scraping to prevent irritation or damage to your tongue’s surface.

·         Hydrate well - Rinsing water after scraping helps flush out loosened debris.

·         Combine with other oral care - Tongue scraping works best alongside regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing with natural mouthwash.

·         Replace your scraper - Over time, scrapers can wear out or harbor bacteria. Replace yours as needed.

If you experience persistent discomfort or notice unusual changes in your tongue, consult your dental care provider. Sometimes, underlying health issues can manifest in your oral cavity.

Embracing a Holistic Dental Care Lifestyle

Tongue scraping is more than a hygiene hack; it’s part of a holistic approach to dental health. When you care for your mouth as a whole system, you support your overall well-being. This mindset is at the heart of what we practice at The Brand Wellness Center in New York City.

By integrating tongue scraping with biological dentistry and naturopathic principles, you’re not just cleaning your mouth—you’re nurturing your body’s natural balance. This approach helps prevent disease, supports immune function, and enhances your quality of life.

If you’re ready to explore a truly integrative dental care experience, consider visiting us. We’re passionate about guiding you toward optimal health through personalized, advanced treatments that honor your body’s wisdom.

Taking a few moments each day to scrape your tongue can be a game-changer for your dental health. It’s a small step with big rewards—fresher breath, healthier gums, and a brighter smile. Why not start today? Your mouth will thank you.

If you like this post you may also like: Floss First

How to Take Control of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is a broad term for conditions involving inflammation and infection of the tissues (gum and bone) that surround and support the teeth. Being that the mouth is a microcosm for other body parts, it is important to heal this gum disease ASAP, to prevent further deterioration of the rest of your health.

Periodontitis is a very common type of gum disease among U.S. adults:

• About 4 in 10 U.S. adults 30 years or older had a mild, moderate, or severe level of periodontitis in 2009–2014.

• About 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women 30 years or older had some level of periodontitis.

Periodontitis is more common as people age. About 60% of adults 65 years or older have periodontitis. 

There are different levels of Periodontal Disease, ranging from Gingivitis (inflamed bleeding gums) up to full blown Periodontitis (severe bone loss, loose teeth).  There are several causes of Periodontal Disease which are listed below:

1.   Poor oral hygiene

2.   Nutritional deficiency

3.   Bacteria overgrowth

4.   Genetics                     

I have seen a direct correlation between dental bone loss and systemic bone loss. If you are losing the bone that supports your teeth, there is a high probability that you are losing bone elsewhere.  No surprise when we find that patients with periodontal bone loss, also have osteopenia or osteoporosis.

There are many ways to treat Periodontal Disease, but it depends on the root cause. From the list above, #1 and #2 are  straight forward in terms of treatment; #3 and #4 require some further investigation.

There are other diseases that correlate with Periodontal Disease. The chart below lists most of them.  The little circles listed next to the disease are the abridged names of the bacteria that are usually present in the saliva with each of the diseases listed. Once we know which bacteria are present in your saliva, this will guide us in treating the periodontal condition with the best medicament.

Luckily we have a simple, painless saliva test to figure these out.  The test involves rinsing with saline for a half minute and spitting into a test tube.  The specimen is sent out to a lab, and the results are back within a week.  Not only will the test tell you which bacteria are present in your mouth but will also tell you if you are genetically predisposed to getting Periodontal Disease.  Knowing these factors can make a huge difference in successfully treating your condition.

Conventionally, most dentists will treat Periodontal Disease with deep cleanings or surgery. This will not address the root cause. It will only treat the symptoms.  By learning which bacteria are present, we know which medicament can eradicate it.

So if you have bleeding gums, receding gums, moving or loose teeth, it would be wise to have the saliva test done to rule out bacterial infection, as well as genetic factors.

Diagnosing Periodontal Disease is easy. Addressing the root cause for proper treatment is the tricky part. Be sure to ask for your saliva test at your next visit.

If you like this post, you may also like: Ozone Dental Therapy for Gum Disease

Rebuilding Bone Naturally  

Finding Natural Health Information on the Internet

In case you haven’t noticed, it is getting more and more difficult to find natural health information through the usual search engines. In June 2019, Google began a new algorithm to change ranking results in their search engine. Many “holistic” and “natural” websites have been excluded from the page one listings thereby making it more difficult to find the health information and/or practitioner that you are seeking.

Some of the most popular sites, such as Dr Mercola, Dr. Axe and even IAOMT, cannot be found on page one when searching for information on holistic medicine or dentistry. In some cases, they cannot be found at all, unless you specifically look up their website. Even with that, some pages of these wbsites have been blocked to keep specific information out of the public knowledge. This seems to be particularly happening with ant-vaccine sites. Mike Adams at Natural News wrote an interesting commentary on this here.

In addition, QuackWatch seems to consistently come up on page 1 of Google search, which further undermines alternative/holistic health issues.

It seems that the only way to get around this is to use a different search engine. There are many to choose from, but I am personally using DuckDuckGo with good comprehensive results.

Feel free to share any information in the Comment section below that may be useful for those looking for answers.

Flossing Really is Important

Here’s a newsflash.

Flossing your teeth BEFORE you brush has been proven to be the most effective way to get your teeth their cleanest. This recent study recently published in the Journal of Periodontology has just confirmed exactly what I have been telling patients for years: Floss First! (You can take a look at our blog written 4 years ago to get the details on this)

Flossing

Apparently, by removing all the interproximal plaque and food debris, you will actually be able to clean more of the tooth surface and gums. Makes perfect sense to me.

Consequently the question that pops into my mind is: why do all the directions on the toothpaste tube say to brush first and then floss? Here are a few reasons:

• Brushing is easier than flossing

• Toothpaste taste better than floss

• Toothpaste is advertised everywhere and more socially acceptable, floss isn’t

• The more you brush, the more toothpaste you will buy (therefore the label advises you to brush first)

Finally, if flossing is so important for dental health, it is best to make sure you are doing it correctly; most people aren’t. At your next dental visit, make it a priority to ask your dentist/hygienist for a quick demo to master this critical part of keeping your teeth healthy for a lifetime.

Osteoporosis and Heart Disease

Most people are aware that there is a strong correlation between periodontal (gum) disease and heart attacks. Bringing this a step further, one can see that there may also be a strong correlation between bone loss and overall heart disease. Since most periodontal disease involves not just gum inflammation and pocketing, but also loss of the bone height supporting the teeth, we can assume that this bone loss, along with the gum inflammation is involved with the heart attack as well.

According to a recent PubMed study, Correlation between Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular Disease, patients affected with osteoporosis, have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than subjects with normal bone mass. For years we were told that this may be due to bacteria getting into the bloodstream and causing blood clots (stroke or heart attack) in the blood vessels, but there may be a bigger culprit to consider.

It has been found that low bone densities are strongly associated with high calcification of the blood vessels. Via nutritional deficiency, minerals are deposited in the lining of arteries instead of the bones. This can be seen on standard x-rays, where dense calcium deposits in the aorta are seen juxtaposed to thin, calcium depleted vertebrae.

Calcification may even form around the heart valves, leading to decrease blood flow and thickening of the arterial walls.

An additional  study has shown an almost six time greater risk of heart disease in people with osteoporosis.

When we consider that the people of our country (USA) probably eat more dairy and take more calcium supplements that anyone else in the world, one has to wonder why osteoporosis and heart disease is rampant.

We may be getting all the minerals we need but apparently, these minerals are being deposited in the blood vessels, not the bones.

This is most likely due to Vitamin K2 deficiency, the necessary nutrient that deposits the minerals in the bone and reduces vascular calcium deposits. It is almost impossible to get enough from food, so it is best to supplement.

Magnesium for Better Health

Mineral deficiency is rampant. Due to modern farming methods that rely heavily on using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides that are absorbed into the soil, our topsoil has been heavily depleted of its mineral content. As a result, so are our fruits and vegetables.

Magnesium is the master mineral, and the repercussions of deficiency are easily observed.

Here are  some signs of a magnesium deficiency:
• Poor sleep
• Heart palpitations or flutterings
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle cramps
• Tremors
• Nausea
• Unexplained anxiety
• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure accompanied with a feeling of fainting
• Type II diabetes
• Respiratory issues, specifically asthma
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Difficulty swallowing
• Poor memory
• Confusion
• Immune system problems

Dentally, when mineral deficient, you may experience increased bruxism (grinding of teeth) or even rampant decay (demineralized enamel) or periodontal infections (weakened immune system). Minerals are vital to a strong immune system as well as building the integrity of teeth and bones.

The most immediate response (usually within one day) that I notice in patients who begin increasing magnesium, is better sleep and less anxiety. Many feel as though they have taken a sedative, as their entire body and mind are finally feeling relaxed.

There are many different formulas for magnesium supplements, so it is always best to talk with your health professional to see which would work best for you. Transdermal magnesium chloride (magnesium oil) applied topically or Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths are probably one of the safest ways to increase magnesium uptake with virtually no side effects.

So for relaxation, and overall better health, mineral supplementation with an emphasis on magnesium is key.

If you like this post, you may also like our many other Posts on Mineral Supplementation

Homeopathy in Dentistry

Homeopathic Remedy

Homeopathy is a natural form of medicine 

used by over 200 million people worldwide to treat both acute and chronic conditions. The name homeopathy, coined by its originator, Samuel Hahnemann in the year 1810, is derived from the Greek words for ‘similar suffering’ referring to the ‘like cures like’ principle of healing. In other words, a substance taken in small amounts will cure the same symptoms it causes if it were taken in large amounts. Homeopathic remedies are vibrational remedies, in which an exceedingly dilute amount of a particular natural substance is used to treat a particular ailment.

That being said, there are a plethora of different homeopathic remedies available over the counter, and even more being custom made for specific disorders.

In my practice, I have found that an increasing number of patients are seeking complementary and alternative therapies to conventional medicine. Homeopathy is one modality that is very helpful in this regard. It can be used successfully as an adjunct in healing dental infections, lessening dental pain, improving periodontal health, and expediting healing after surgery.

Will it cure everything? Probably not. But by integrating homeopathy with the wisdom of conventional dental care, the results can be more progressive than usually expected.

As many of you already know, I am a big believer of vibrational healing. (see The 2 Minute Tune Up post) By using different kinds of quantum energy healing techniques, I have been able to make a full recovery from chronic Lyme disease. By adjusting the energy field of a disorder, the disorder can be brought back to an energy of health.

“Energy (holistic) medicine recognizes that there is more to affecting change than going directly after the symptom. Sometimes you have to affect the field to create a shift in the particle; like listening to uplifting music to change your emotional state which will ultimately affect your physical health. This is based on Quantum physics: using indivisible units of energy called quanta to affect the field around it. And this theory basis of Quantum physics explains the precepts behind Energy Medicine,” inclusive of homeopathy. (Referenced from my post on Reiki: June 2011)

While homeopathy falls under the umbrella of alternative or complementary medicine, it is not to be confused with naturopathy or herbalism. Homeopathy is defined more narrowly than naturopathy. Homeopathy is one of the most frequently used complementary therapies worldwide.

Genetic Testing for Gum Disease and Oral Cancer

The link between genetics and degenerative diseases has become a focal point in the medical field.
DNA testing for Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, diabetes, etc. is fairly common nowadays; and the addition of new types of genetic testing is mounting.

Cross over to dentistry, and let’s see what’s available. Presently, in New York State, the dentist is now allowed to test for genetic markers in saliva for periodontal disease and oral cancer (from HPV). Both are relatively simple and painless tests. No needles, no drills, no blood. Just rinse with a saline (salt) solution and spit into a test tube. One week later, your results are in.

So why is this important? Well, if you have the genetic markers for gum disease, you really don’t want to postpone periodontal care. Losing teeth is never a good thing (can’t smile and can’t eat) and it will be expensive to replace missing teeth with implants or dentures. Best to diagnose it before it is symptomatic to prevent it from manifesting.

As for the genetic oral cancer test, it is good to know which HPV gene you have if any (there are 51 HPV types tested in the saliva analysis), so that you can be proactive in eradicating it BEFORE oral cancer strikes.

According to a new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, nationwide rates for oral HPV infections are 11.5% of men and 3.2% of women. That’s 11 million men, compared with 3.2 million women. That means that about one in nine American men is infected with the oral form of human papillomavirus (HPV).

Genetic testing for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease, as well as the assessment for oral cancer susceptibility, allows for a personalized approach to holistic preventive health care.

Bear in mind that that nearly all oral diseases cause absolutely no pain until they are quite advanced. This includes tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. Oral cancer occurs more frequently than most other common cancers. Due to late diagnosis, about half of the nearly 50,000 patients diagnosed every year with oral cancer in the U.S. will die of their disease. The only positive way to impact this devastating outcome is with yearly physical examination of the oral cavity, head, and neck. Saliva genetic analysis may just save your life.

Be sure to ask for you saliva genetic testing at your next visit.

A Healthy Mouth May Extend Your Life Span

Most of us involved with holistic health are already aware that the health of your mouth is a reflection of the health of your body.

Here is another study substantiating this.

According to the BMJ (British Medical Journal), a recent study in Sweden was conducted that proved there is a significant link between excessive dental plaque and premature cancer death. Higher levels of bacteria correlated with increased risks of dying up to 13 years earlier than normally expected.

Dental Plaque

Almost 1400 people were followed for a period of 24 years. Of the 58 people who passed away, 35.6% of them were women and 64.4% were men. The difference between genders was statistically significant, implying that men need to keep a cleaner oral cavity to stay well.

Based on the findings of this study, the high bacterial load on tooth surfaces and in gingival pockets over a prolonged period of time may indeed play a significant role in getting cancer. The control of the oral biofilm (plaque, tartar) is necessary to reduce the burden of the bad bacteria that may lead to getting cancer.

As was concluded in the study, poor oral hygiene, as reflected in the amount of dental plaque, was associated with increased cancer mortality. As a good preventative, we should all floss, brush, and eat right on a daily basis. And as importantly, visit your dentist regularly for evaluations and proper dental cleanings.

Ozone Dental Therapy for Gum Disease

The word “ozone” may make you think of a hole in the earth’s atmosphere due to pollution, or remind you of the unique scent in the air after a lightning storm.

In reality, ozone is a vital, healthy element. It shields us from ultraviolet rays of the sun, and it has many helpful applications in daily life. I use ozone water as a rinse to remove bugs and residual pesticides from my fresh produce. Many cities use ozone to keep public water supplies safe and germ-free. It is also a component of air purification systems, and is used to clean spas and swimming pools.

Bleeding Gums

Do you have bleeding gums or chronic bad breath? Do you find blood on your pillow in the morning? If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions you may have gum disease.

Bleeding Gums

Periodontal (gum) disease is rampant. It is estimated that 80% of the adult population over the age of 40, have it. Most people aren’t even aware that they have it since it is fairly painless with minimal symptoms. If left untreated, the obvious sequelae include painful abscesses, loose teeth, and finally tooth loss. The less obvious sequelae is chronic inflammation in the body, heart attack and strokes.