According to the American Dental Association, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. The foundation of good oral hygiene is brushing, flossing, using mouthwash for gums and teeth, and regular dental check-ups. But do you know tongue cleaning is also a part of your oral hygiene routine? Your tongue harbors around 50% of the bacteria, and you surely don’t want to neglect it. It can lead to bad breath, cavities, and gum diseases.
Do you know the several benefits of tongue cleaning?
- Reduces sulfur compounds that cause bad breath
Studies show that tongue cleaners or scrapers helped reduce 75% of sulfur compounds from the tongue, causing bad breath, compared to a toothbrush removing 45%.
- Reduces bacteria on the tongue
Studies found that tongue cleaning helped reduce bacteria only when performed regularly. It is advised to brush your teeth and clean your tongue regularly.
- Reduces plaque
A study found that regular tongue cleaning or scraping helped reduce plaque in children.
- Taste perceptions
A cleaner tongue can contribute to a fresher feeling in your mouth and alter taste perceptions.
How to Clean Your Tongue
Tongue Scrapers
Tongue scrapers are highly effective in eliminating bacteria from the mouth. Studies have found that tongue scrapers and cleaners have reduced sulfur compounds that lead to bad breath. Choose a plastic or metal tongue scraping instrument, which may be bent or V-shaped. Then stick out the tongue as far as you can and place the tongue scraper at the back and then move it toward the front, scraping the layer on your tongue. Then wash the scraper with hot water to clean the particles and spit out excess saliva built during tongue scraping. Repeat it unless your tongue is clean. You may clean your tongue once or twice a day.
Toothbrush
If you clean your tongue with a toothbrush, choose a soft bristle. Stick out your tongue as far and wide as possible and position it back. Then brush lightly forward or backward at the back of the tongue. Spit the saliva to remove the debris and rinse your toothbrush with warm water. Remember to clean your tongue as much as possible depending on what you eat or drink.
Whether you use a tongue scraper, toothbrush, or oral mouth rinse, tongue cleaning is a good addition to your oral hygiene routine. Cleaning your tongue may help reduce your bad breath and the risk of cavities and contribute to mouth cleaning.
If you notice any unusual changes to your tongue, you may reach out to Foothill Dental Care at (925) 961-5484.