(734) 999-9909
In most cases, you think that cleaning your teeth regularly is the most important thing you have to do to achieve good oral health. This means that you have to brush and floss your teeth daily, which implies that you must visit your dentist regularly. But did you know that it’s also important to clean your tongue?
Many forget to clean their tongues or worse, take them for granted. Tongue cleaning should be a part of your oral care routine. It’s an important part of combating bad breath and eliminating unwanted bacteria from your mouth.
The good news is, there are many tools available for tongue scraping. You can choose the one that works best for you. But before that, here’s what you need to know about tongue scraping and why you should add it to your oral care routine.
Importance of Cleaning Your Tongue
What’s the purpose of brushing your teeth? Aside from removing stains, you brush your teeth to get rid of bacteria. However, when you’re eating and drinking, your teeth aren’t the only part of your body that comes into contact with your food and drink. Obviously, your tongue does as well, which means that it is also exposed to stains, debris, and bacteria.
In fact, the middle and back of your tongue collect more bacteria than any other part of your mouth. If left unattended, the bacteria it collects can cause bad breath and tooth decay. That’s why you shouldn’t stop at brushing your teeth. You should also clean your tongue on a regular basis. You may even find that your sense of taste will also improve after you clean your tongue!
Ways to Clean Your Tongue
How can you clean your tongue? The answer is by tongue scraping. All you have to do is to buy a device called a tongue scraper. If it’s not available in your area, you can just buy a toothbrush with a built-in tongue scraping feature. We suggest you use a tongue scraper instead of a toothbrush if you have a strong gag reflex.
There’s a wide array of tongue scrapers out there you can choose from. You may want to try them all to determine which one suits you. However, it’s best to ask your dentist before buying a tongue scraper, as he or she may be able to recommend the best one for you.
Using A Tongue Scraper
When you buy a tongue scraper, you need to be able to use it properly. Here’s how you can do that:
- Stick your tongue out all the way so you can clean as much of it as possible without activating your gag reflex.
- Gently scrape your tongue from the back to the front.
- Be sure to rinse residue from the tool as it builds up. Continue until you’ve cleaned your entire tongue.
- Make sure all debris is removed.
- Once done, rinse out your mouth to clear any remaining bacteria.
Please be reminded that it’s best to scrape your tongue at least twice a day. You may also want to scrape your tongue after eating or drinking.
Final Words
What are the benefits of using a tongue scraper? First, tongue scraping removes two types of bacteria: mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. These cause bad breath and dental decay. Second, tongue scraping improves your sense of taste. This is because a clean tongue is better equipped to differentiate between taste sensations
In the end, tongue scraping is an excellent way to eliminate bacteria in your mouth. Apart from brushing, flossing, and regular appointments with your dentist, make sure to incorporate tongue-scraping in your oral care routine.
If you’re looking for a local dentist to help you with your dental health, get in touch with us today for a free consultation.
