A tongue depressor is a piece of equipment that allows a healthcare professional to easily observe a person’s mouth and throat.

A tongue depressor is a medical device designed to lower and hold the tongue in place so that the mouth and throat can be examined by a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Composition

The tongue depressor is shaped like a thin, flat stick with rounded ends. Most often, it is made of wood and is single-use (disposable), but doctors can also use disposable plastic or stainless steel tongue depressors. These are reusable but are sterilized before use.

A tongue depressor is used by general practitioners, pediatricians, otolaryngologists (ENT) as well as by other health professionals or other paramedical professions to lower the tongue of the person being examined and thus see the mouth clearly and throat. Indeed, when you open your mouth wide, the tongue goes up and hides the inside of the mouth, and more particularly the oropharynx located at the back of the oral cavity.

A tongue depressor can also be used to lift the lips to examine the gums (to see if you have healthy gums or a visible lesion such as a canker sore).

In which cases is a tongue depressor used?

The tongue depressor is mainly used to diagnose ENT diseases: rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, pharyngitis, etc.

Public concerned or at risk

Any adult or child who requires a throat and / or mouth examination may have a tongue depressor put on by a healthcare professional.

The stages of operation

You open your mouth wide. The doctor pushes the tongue depressor in and gently presses at the base of the tongue to see the condition of the inside of your throat and / or your mouth, then throws the wooden tongue depressor (most commonly used) after use.

When to use it?

Healthcare professionals use a tongue depressor when they need to examine the mouth and throat for a diagnosis.

Precautions to take

This test can be unpleasant (especially if you have a sore throat) but it lasts very little time (better to be relaxed).

Did you know that the tongue depressor has been used since Antiquity? This invention would have been made by Paul d’Egina, a Greek doctor, in the XNUMXth century.

The different models

There are different models of tongue depressors, most often in wood or plastic, in adult size or in child size.

Some brands offer colorful plastic tongue depressors for children with decorations and even colored tongue depressors with a candy taste.