Amano Tongue Cleanser Review
Words By David Cruickshank
Tongue cleaning is now recognized as an important aspect of oral hygiene that really shouldn’t be neglected.
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Introduction
An area of oral hygiene that often gets neglected is tongue cleaning.
Our tongues are wonderful organs that enable us to taste, talk and express ourselves. But the ugly truth is that the surface of the tongue is just the perfect hiding place for rotting food particles, dead skin cells, and bad bacteria.
Now, a lovely pink tongue is a sign of wellness and vitality but a tongue heavily coated in gunge is not only unattractive but it can also significantly affect digestive and cardiovascular health. And not only that but a build-up of bad bacteria on your tongue will produce a significant amount of the volatile sulfur compounds that cause rancid bad breath.
So with all that in mind, we decided to take a look at the Rolls Royce of tongue cleaners, the Amano tongue cleanser.
The Rolls Royce of tongue scrapers
Amano has been making high quality tongue cleaners since 1992. But our interest was piqued by their majestically named Neoclassic model.
The tongue scraper comes in a handy storage case that slides apart to reveal the cleanser and instructions inside. If you compare the Neoclassic model with the other Amano cleaners you can see that it has a slightly sharper blade and a more refined profile. Newcomers to the art of tongue cleaning would be well advised to start gently with this scraper to avoid any feelings of tenderness. Once you are accustomed to it you can ramp up the pressure for a deeper clean.
Many tongue cleaners are disposable plastic products that are designed to be replaced regularly but this Amano cleanser is built to last a lifetime. It is made from surgical-grade stainless steel that is easy to sanitize, corrosive resistant and most importantly, it is completely inert, so no chemicals can leak from it into your mouth.
Unfortunately, we are living in a throw-away culture where many products are so easily discarded. In theory, plastic tongue cleaners can be recycled, but in reality, little plastic objects often end up littering our countryside, rivers, and seas. So, it’s nice to see eco-friendly, quality products like the Amano cleanser that are made to last for many years.
How to use the Amano Cleanser
The Amano cleanser is super easy to use. Just moisten your tongue with water before you start, or alternatively use an anti-bacterial tongue spray for lubrication. With your tongue extended, place the cleaner as far back as you can manage and gently pull it forward, scraping away the coating from the surface as you go. Rinse the cleanser under the tap and then repeat the process with overlapping strokes until you have scraped the front, back and both sides of the tongue clean.
Then just rinse to cleaner under the tap and let it air dry.
How to use The Amano Cleanser
Spending just a minute cleaning your tongue per day can help improve the freshness of your breath.
Why you need a tongue scraper
Our mouth contains a diverse community of bacterial flora that can, directly and indirectly, affect our oral and general health. Science has barely begun to fully understand how this complex microbial ecosystem affects our health but one thing we do know that the tongue is a bacterial hot spot that accounts for most cases of halitosis (also known as bad breath).
Deep grooves in the tongue surface provide the low oxygen environment favored by the bacteria responsible for producing the mouth odor that we all dread. Bacteria produce volatile sulfur compounds two of which are the unpleasant-smelling methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide. When we smell bad breath, it is likely that it is caused by bacteria on the tongue expelling these two putrid gases.
Research has shown that if you have a heavy coating of bacteria on your tongue you will likely have bad breath at some point during the day. In fact, studies have shown that the amount of coating on the tongue is directly proportional to the levels of volatile sulfur compounds produced.
By regularly cleaning away the coating from the tongue with a scraper like the Amano Cleanser you reduce bad breath to unnoticeable levels.
Check out our guide to the best tongue scrapers.
The Final Word
This Amano cleanser is more expensive than most tongue scrapers but it will last much longer and work out so much cheaper in the long run. We like that it is made from 100% recyclable medical grade stainless steel. Choosing a product like this has minimal effects on the environment especially if it ends up being recycled.
Research is beginning to prove just how important the balance of oral bacteria is to your general health and tongue cleaning is now recognized as an important aspect of oral hygiene that really shouldn’t be neglected.
So if you are looking for a good tongue cleaner, we’d recommend checking out this Amano tongue cleanser. It’s super stylish and the little blade does a really great job of scraping your tongue clean.
Authors & Contributors
David Cruickshank
Author
Stephanie Price
Presenter
