New Health Warning: Overdoing Tongue-Scraping May Have Unexpected Consequences

Tongue-scraping has been a popular dental practice for centuries, gaining renewed attention in recent years. Searches for “tongue scraper” have nearly doubled in the last two decades, according to Google Trends. It’s known for its ability to improve oral hygiene, freshen breath, and even enhance taste. However, some experts are raising concerns about an unexpected health risk: heart problems.

While tongue-scraping is widely touted for its dental benefits, a growing number of experts warn that it could have a surprising and potentially dangerous impact on heart health.

Tongue-scraping (or tongue-brushing) is a simple process that involves cleaning the tongue to remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells. It’s a practice commonly used to freshen breath and improve overall oral hygiene.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the most effective way to scrape the tongue is using a specific tool, which can be found at pharmacies for as little as $8. A metal scraper, recommended by Dr. Whitney White of Aspen Dental, is considered particularly hygienic and easy to use.

When used gently and sparingly, tongue-scraping helps eliminate plaque and bacteria, ensuring a cleaner mouth. Dr. Tenika Patterson, a dental hygienist, explains that tongue-scraping can be far more effective than brushing when it comes to removing plaque:

“Brushing can push dirt deeper into the surface, but scraping gets it all off easily.”

While tongue-scraping offers benefits, experts warn that the practice could introduce unforeseen risks, particularly for heart health.

Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist, explains that aggressive or frequent tongue-scraping can cause microscopic cuts on the tongue. These tiny abrasions can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of a heart condition called endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves that can lead to severe damage if left untreated.

Oral health has long been linked to overall heart health, with conditions like gingivitis known to contribute to heart disease. So, the potential for bacteria entering the bloodstream from tongue-scraping should not be taken lightly.

Although scraping your tongue gently once a day can help maintain a healthy mouth, experts warn that overdoing it may harm your heart health. Dr. White cautions that excessive scraping can disrupt the balance of good bacteria in your mouth, which is vital for the production of nitric oxide, a compound crucial for heart health.

“While gentle, regular scraping helps remove harmful bacteria, doing it too often can lower nitric oxide levels and increase the risk of high blood pressure,” Dr. White explains.

This is why moderation is key when it comes to tongue-scraping.

While tongue-scraping can improve oral hygiene, it should never replace regular brushing and flossing. Dr. Serwer stresses that maintaining healthy gums and teeth through regular visits to the dentist, along with brushing twice a day and flossing, is far more important than relying on tongue-scraping.

“The benefits of tongue-scraping are minimal compared to the importance of regular oral hygiene,” Dr. Serwer adds.

Experts agree that while tongue-scraping can play a small role in oral care, it’s not a critical step in your daily routine. In fact, Dr. White recommends scraping your tongue in moderation:

“Less is more when it comes to scraping. Keep your routine balanced for the best results for both your mouth and your body.”

If you’re a fan of tongue-scraping, there’s no need to stop—just be sure not to overdo it. Use a gentle touch, avoid scraping too frequently, and continue with your regular brushing and flossing. Tongue-scraping can be a helpful tool for freshening your breath and maintaining oral hygiene, but it should never replace the fundamental steps for keeping your mouth—and your heart—healthy.

Source: FOX News – This odd dental habit could spark heart health risks, experts warn

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For decades, coffee was associated with increased health risks. However, research over the past ten years suggests that drinking coffee may actually offer health benefits.

Changing Perceptions About Coffee

Caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance, and coffee, a natural source of caffeine, has been a staple in human diets for centuries. Historically, coffee was viewed negatively, with studies from the 1980s and 1990s linking it to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. According to Marc Gunter, a professor of cancer epidemiology at Imperial College London, “Research has evolved, and we now have data from hundreds of thousands of coffee drinkers.”

Coffee and Cancer Risk

Concerns about coffee causing cancer stem from its acrylamide content—a carcinogen also found in toast and chips. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded in 2016 that coffee is not carcinogenic unless consumed at extremely high temperatures (above 65°C or 149°F). A 2023 review supported this conclusion, finding no strong evidence linking acrylamide in coffee to cancer risk.

Potential Health Benefits of Coffee

Recent studies highlight coffee’s potential protective effects. For example, research by Gunter in 2017 examined the coffee-drinking habits of 500,000 Europeans over 16 years. Findings revealed that higher coffee consumption correlated with a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Similar results have been observed in the US and UK.

Interestingly, coffee’s benefits appear to transcend caffeine. Studies show that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee contain antioxidants and are associated with lower disease rates.

Understanding the Evidence

While observational studies suggest significant health benefits, they cannot prove cause and effect. As Peter Rogers, a researcher at the University of Bristol, points out, coffee drinkers might naturally have better health profiles despite less healthy lifestyles. Population studies cannot fully isolate coffee’s effects from other variables.

Coffee and Pregnancy

Advice around coffee consumption during pregnancy remains mixed. A 2022 review linked coffee to an increased risk of miscarriage, but researchers noted confounding factors like smoking. The Food Standards Agency recommends limiting coffee to one to two cups daily during pregnancy, while some experts suggest avoiding it entirely. Economist Emily Oster emphasizes the lack of randomized data to draw definitive conclusions.

Caffeine’s Cognitive Effects

Caffeine, a psychoactive drug, affects the brain and nervous system. While regular coffee drinkers may no longer experience a cognitive boost due to tolerance, non-regular drinkers can use caffeine to enhance focus. Dependency is common but mild, with withdrawal symptoms like fatigue and headaches typically lasting a few days.

Brewing and Health

Does the brewing method matter? Research indicates that health benefits are consistent across coffee types. However, ground coffee’s bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, might confer stronger benefits compared to instant or decaf varieties.

A 2021 study linked all coffee types to reduced chronic liver disease risk, and a 2022 study found that decaf coffee was associated with the strongest reduction in cardiovascular disease risk and overall mortality.

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests that moderate coffee consumption—up to four cups per day—is unlikely to harm health and may even offer protective benefits. “If anything, it’s the opposite,” says Gunter. As with anything, moderation is key.

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