It’s common knowledge that regular brushing and flossing are key to a happy, healthy smile. But what about your tongue? Even though it’s probably not the first part of your mouth you think about cleaning each day, this group of muscles plays an important role in your oral health. Just like your teeth and gums, plaque and bacteria build up on your tongue throughout the day, so it’s essential to clean it daily. Read on as your Flower Mound dentist explains how cleaning your tongue can help keep you healthy as well as how to do it properly.
A Healthy Tongue & A Happy Smile
Your tongue may look smooth, but its actually covered in small bumps and grooves. These small spaces easily catch plaque, bacteria, food particles, and dead skin cells and trap them underneath a thin layer of mucus. Not only will scraping or brushing this debris away make your mouth feel fresher, but it can also:
- Prevent bad breath: Over time, the particles trapped on your tongue will begin to decay and release a volatile sulfur compound, which laces your breath with a foul odor. Studies show that cleaning your tongue can clear away 75% of the debris that causes bad breath.
- Reduce oral bacteria: If the bacteria on your tongue isn’t kept in check with regular cleaning, it can grow quickly. Not only can this excess bacteria cause tongue infections like oral thrush, but it can also be inhaled and cause respiratory health issues.
- Lower risk of tooth decay and gum disease: An uncleaned tongue leads to an unhealthy mouth. The more plaque, bacteria, and decaying particles that are allowed to build up, the higher your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and a wide variety of oral health issues.
How to Keep a Clean Tongue
Thankfully, you can easily keep your tongue clean with a tongue scraper. This dental tool comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, but generally looks like a hoop attached to the end of a handle. Placing the hoop gently on top of your tongue and pulling it forward scrapes off the mucus and the debris trapped underneath. Once it reaches the tip of your tongue, simply rinse it off and repeat the gesture on an unscraped section of your tongue.
You can also effectively clean your tongue using your normal toothbrush. After you’ve brushed your teeth, you can use the dampened toothbrush to massage your tongue and clear away any trapped particles. Make sure to start from the back of your tongue and work your way forward with small circular strokes to ensure you don’t swallow any of the dislodged debris. After scrubbing the entire surface of your tongue, don’t forget to rinse your toothbrush off before putting it away!
A healthy smile is about more than just sparkling teeth! Cleaning your tongue is an important part of your daily dental routine that keeps your mouth healthy and fresh.
About the Author
Dr. Rodger Song and his talented team have spent decades caring for the happy, healthy smiles of Flower Mound, TX. As an active member in organizations like the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry, he is committed to staying current with the latest advancements in dentistry. From preventive care to oral surgery, he is proud to offer his patients the most comfortable and efficient care with state-of-the-art technology and the latest dental techniques. If you’d like to learn more about cleaning your tongue, feel free to contact him via his website or at (972) 906-9797.