When people talk about the “microbiome”, they usually mean the collection of bacteria that live in your gut. But bugs live all over the human body. The ecosystem of bacteria in human mouths is the reason human teeth decay: the bugs ferment sugar to fuel their metabolisms. One byproduct is acid, which can weaken tooth enamel. They can cause other problems too, such as bad breath and gum disease.

That is why dentists are so keen that everyone brush their teeth religiously. But are we all missing a trick? In the past, people used to scrape their tongues in an effort to keep their mouths clean (Napoleon Bonaparte’s scraper was made of silver). These days the idea is enjoying something of a renaissance, thanks to the efforts of health influencers.

This week’s column looks at whether it’s worth doing. There is some evidence in favour: one study found it helped reduce bad breath; another that it cut levels of one of the bacterial species responsible for tooth decay. If you want the full details, you’ll have to read the piece. But another study pointed out that, rather than buying a special scraper (solid silver or otherwise) you might be able to get results just as good with the humble plastic toothbrush.

What does your mouth-care routine look like? Tell us via our poll. And if you have tips for keeping your teeth, tongue and gums healthy, you can email us at wellinformed@economist.com. We might feature you in next week’s newsletter.

Last week we asked if you used a weighted blanket to help you sleep. A third of readers said they did, while 27% said they didn’t but might consider it. A plurality (34%) opted against sleeping with heavy blankets—and said they never would.

Catrina in Brussels says she had “the most disconcerting experience” after trying a weighted blanket on a friend’s recommendation and that it provided one of the worst night’s sleep of her life. In North Carolina, Gloria also says she finds the blankets “smothering”.

But many of you, including Carolyn and Joel, said weighted blankets did help them to sleep. Writing from Auckland, Bruce said although the weight seemed “odd and awkward at first”, he soon adjusted and now “absolutely loves it”. In Texas, Joseph says a 10lb weighted blanket helped ease his anxiety before bed, and that he enjoys the extra warmth it brings. He cautions, however, that a 15lb blanket is too heavy. See you next week.

People have used tongue-scrapers since at least the Roman era. Napoleon Bonaparte’s was made of silver. George Washington took his everywhere. Today celebrity “influencers” like Hailey Bieber and Gwyneth Paltrow scrape their tongues as part of their “wellness” routines. But is tongue-scraping truly a useful part of dental hygiene, or is brushing and flossing enough?