Why you need to brush your tongue?

All of us know the importance of maintaining proper oral hygiene that includes brushing teeth and flossing daily. However, there is something that most people often neglect- taking care of the tongue. 

Why is brushing your tongue important?

Whether you know it or not, the truth is, the tongue helps us perform our day-to-day tasks, including talking, chewing, and swallowing. Besides, the taste buds of our tongue help us taste and enjoy foods.

The texture of our tongues is bumpy and almost spongy, making them more prone to the accumulation of bacteria. If you ignore taking good care of your tongue, it could lead to various dental problems. Therefore, it is essential to brush your tongue as a part of your oral care routine to ensure overall oral health. 

How to clean your tongue?

It is recommended that every time you brush your teeth, you should brush your tongue too. The brushing of the tongue should be as follows: 

• Brush the tongue back and forth
• Brush it side to side
• After brushing, rinse your mouth with water

Do not overbrush, as this will break the skin. Instead of brushing the tongue, some people choose a tongue scraper. 

Reasons to brush your tongue.

If not cleaned properly, your tongue can become a brooding place for bacteria. The major benefits of brushing the tongue along with teeth are as follows:

• Fight Bacteria 

As our mouth is warm, moist, and dark, billions of bacteria reside in our mouth. While some of them are necessary, a portion of them is damaging to oral health. Brushing or scraping the tongue every day will help to remove the bacteria residing in the tongue.

• Improves Breath

Cleaning the tongue using a scraper or brushing it with a toothbrush can make your breath smell much better. Cleaning the tongue will support the beneficial bacteria in the mouth to fight the gross-smelling bacteria that cause halitosis or severe bad breath.

• Enhances oral health

The harmful bacteria in the mouth can affect our overall oral health leading to cavity formation and gum disease. Cleaning them will help you prevent oral health problems caused by harmful bacteria.

• It will help make food taste better

Brushing and cleaning the tongue every day eliminates the bacteria on your taste buds that prevent the taste buds from enjoying the correct flavors of food. 

Proper Tongue Brushing

Add brushing your tongue to your oral hygiene routine and do it every time you brush your teeth. However, if you feel brushing the tongue uncomfortable or have a sensitive gag reflex, you can opt for a tongue scraper instead. Also, do not skip your biannual visits to your dentist at PS Dental Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for professional cleanings and regular checkups. 

Call us at (503) 574-4000 or schedule an appointment online to consult your dentist at PS Dental Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, 12017 SW 70th Ave, Tigard, OR 97223.