If your oral health isn’t quite what you want it to be, you may be tempted to blame it on genetics. However, your oral health/oral hygiene is 100% your responsibility. It is completely up to you to care for your teeth, and there is a lot you can do to maintain a healthy mouth.
Who knew that something as simple as cleaning your tongue could make a huge difference for both your dental health and oral health? That layer of bacteria under your tongue can have a significant impact on bad breath, teeth, and your overall health.
Why You Should Clean Your Tongue
Our tongue is home to millions of bacteria, which is why it’s important to keep it clean and healthy. The best way to do this is with a tongue scraper. You may wonder why you need a tongue scraper when you already brush your teeth twice a day. That is because most toothbrushes are too soft to clean your tongue or reach tight spaces between your teeth. Because of this, your tongue can have a buildup of bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Just like the rest of the body, the tongue needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria. You may not think of your tongue as an important organ in your body. However, it is very important as it is the only organ used for both tasting and speaking. The tongue is also important for chewing, maintaining a sense of taste, and producing saliva.
Tongue cleaning should be part of your everyday oral hygiene routine!
Tips on How to Properly Clean Your Tongue
*If you don’t have a tongue cleaner or tongue scraper:
- Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Stick out your tongue and brush it lightly forward and backward
- After brushing, spit out the saliva and wash your toothbrush with warm water
- Make sure to brush your tongue and teeth regularly
The tongue is an important part of oral health, and it is the first body part to encounter food and drinks. This is why cleaning your tongue is a good oral hygiene habit to form. It can prevent food particles from accumulating in the mouth, helping to avoid tooth decay and periodontal disease. If you notice some unusual changes with your tongue, it is best to visit a dentist near you.
Despite their importance, many people don’t think about their tongues too often. However, like our hair and nails, our tongues are part of our bodies and deserve some attention. In fact, properly caring for our tongues is even more important than you might think. Our tongues are covered with millions of tiny papillae-tiny bumps that help us taste the food we eat. They also encounter bacteria with each bite of food, which can cause bad breath. By cleaning our tongues, we can keep our teeth, gums, and mouths healthy and fresh.