Tongue Depressors

I became aware of medical exams back in the 1940s. It didn't matter if you had a sore toe or dandruff, the Dr. always took a wooden tongue depressor and held your tongue down while looking at your throat. Today, you never see a tongue depressor used by a medical professional. I know that mouths and throats have not changed since that time and Dr.s eyes are still the same.

I can still remember the taste of the wood on my tongue. What has replaced this technique for examining the throat or has the need for this view lost its value? Are we just saving trees now?

I remember tongue depressors always when I was a kid at the Dr. Than years went by without a Dr. using one on me. Than I went to an appointment with a new Dr who used one and only than did I realize how long it had been. She also looked into my ears, another thing that I realized had not been done to me in a long time and reminded me of childhood check ups.

I developed a passion for them, when speech therapists decided to inspect my tonsils every five mins

Interesting question, trucker. I think it's only half true that medical professionals have stopped using tongue depressors. Just a few years back, an ENT specialist, Dr Kane, at Melbourne's so-called Eye & Ear Hospital gave me a thorough inspection. He had a head-mirror (and lamp), a long-stemmed mirror - and a lethal-looking curved metal tongue depressor which he wasn't backward in using! On the other hand, I haven't had any wooden tongue depressors used on me lately. A couple of doctors have just taken a quick peek inside my mouth - probably to check general health (but note: a deviated uvula can indicate certain problems, such as a stroke) - while I'd suggest that blood tests have become the favoured method of checking a patient's general well-being these days.

I was pleased to see that seanpdineen99 is another person here who has a passion for tongue depressors! I did an unofficial quick check a few weeks back of Zity members and found just three or four who were prepared to say that the tongue depressor is their favourite instrument during a medical exam! (Any others out there?!)

For some pics, see my 'Mouths and related stuff' Album!

- Ken

Well, you have a point there. I can remember as a kid the wooden depressor but lately I have only been asked to stick my tongue out and say AHHHHH...

Thanks to my Australian friend. I enjoyed your country as part of my Vietnamese and Malayan doctoral research. Perhaps some shelia with a torch will make me say ahh.

I had one used on me last august when i had strep throat.

Seanpdineen99 wrote:

> Thanks to my Australian friend. I enjoyed your country as part of my Vietnamese and Malayan doctoral research. Perhaps some shelia with a torch will make me say ahh.

May you get lucky! Sorry about your disability (I read your profile). The world moves in mysterious ways.

I gather that you still have your tonsils. Hmm. Did you know that in the 1930s 61% of American high school students had already had their tonsils out? I would love to know what the percentage is today. I would guess it might be half that - with sleep apnea the major reason for tonsillectomies today. Maybe I'll start a thread here in which people tell whether they've still got their tonsils. (When I was a boy in Melbourne, just about every kid in the neighbourhood had had his/her tonsils out. But that was a few years ago now.)

I'm happy to be called your Australian friend.

- Ken

Knowing you, cutelillesbo (as I do - you're another Zity friend of mine!), you probably enjoyed it when the tongue depressor was used on you! You have posted previously about that!

Hey, I see that you nearly have 100 bonus points. You'll be able to access Albums. Tell me if some of the pics in my 'Mouths' album appeal to you, won't you?!

- Ken

Prefer to have throat examined with tongue depressor.

I just had a wooden tongue depressor used on me a couple of weeks ago at a physical. The doctor has a glass jar full of them on his counter.

My doctor still uses them at my physical.

I'm pretty sure my doctor still uses them, also, but that's definitely not one of my favorite parts, so I could be wrong. I guess I'll have to pay closer attention next time.

My doctor used one at my last physical, a few weeks ago

As a kid my doctors used wooden tongue depressors, and I still have a tongue depressor used at my physicals only they're metal now.

My pediatricians sometimes used tongue depressors to hold my cheeks apart while checking my rear end. Other times they would use a gloved hand or use an anuscope.

As in the case of BenDover (post #11 ), my regular doctor has a jar of wooden tongue depressors on his desk. Sadly, he's never used one on me although recently he did indicate that l should lean towards him and open my mouth wide. (I was happy to oblige, once l grasped what he wanted …) ‘Hmm. It’s a bit red back there', was his only comment.

Tongue depressors are a favourite medical instrument of mine. I'm thinking particularly of the very purpose-built curved metal ones that ENT specialists use. Nothing escapes their eagle-eyes, and that's sexy! The specialist l last saw had everything needful, including lamp, head-mirror, a flat metal spatula (to push the tongue every which way), long-stemmed dental-type mirrors - plus of course the wicked-looking curved metal tongue depressor. His battery of instruments left the patient absolutely no place to hide!

- Ken

Hey, that's an interesting observation! It's funny how certain medical practices can change over time, even though the basic biology of our bodies remains the same.

I think many of us like it because it gives us that nostalgic feeling of being embarrassed, a fear that we will gag, some of us gag uncontrollably but they still need to take a good look so they keep pressing it in the back of our throats as we’re gagging. I love it. And I would submit to one any time.

As for the use of wooden tongue depressors, it's true that you don't see them as much in modern medical exams. There could be a number of reasons for this, ranging from concerns about hygiene and contamination to advances in technology and diagnostic tools. However, if you're feeling nostalgic for the taste of wood on your tongue, you might be interested in checking out this link: https://harmonycr.com/tongue-depressors/. They offer a variety of tongue depressors made from different materials, so you can choose the one that best suits your taste (no pun intended).

Oh how I hated those as a child !!!!!

Always made me gag.

Kind of mastered the gag reflexes after a while eh @Secret_sub? 😃

When I was a kid, so 80s and 90s it was pretty common that doctors used tongue depressors - I had no clue it how those are called. Always hated it, cased me to gag or even vomit on one occasion. Then, since my late teens, I cannot recall real docs using them. I think it is not the case of phasing tool and procedure out, but age of the examined patient. It is used on kids to ensure a good visibility of throat. Adult can easily follow doctors instructions to open wide, stick tongue and keep mouth open. As well, adults have much bigger mouths.

@LordJim2 partly 😉 Still have trouble with anything that presses on my tongue whilst I try saying " Ahhhh"

I just do not talk with my mouth full. LOL

@secret_sub Hidden meaning there I think...