Do you sometimes have bad breath despite daily brushing and flossing? Sure, your teeth and gums might be clean, but you may be missing a large portion of your mouth: your tongue. Not cleaning your tongue can result in bacteria re-depositing on your teeth and gums, resulting in bad breath. So, just how and why should you clean your tongue? A dentist is here with the answers.
Why You Should Clean Your Tongue
Your tongue is covered in tiny bumps called papillae. Bacteria, dead skin cells, and particles from the food you eat can collect in these little grooves. The debris that has accumulated on your tongue can fester and cause bad breath, also known as halitosis, and even a white discoloration of the tongue. To make matters worse, the bacteria can also redeposit onto the gums and teeth even after you have brushed and flossed, resulting in an increased likelihood of plaque and tartar buildup. This means a higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay. To lower this risk, let’s examine how to properly clean your tongue.
How to Clean Your Tongue
The two main ways to clean your tongue are brushing and scraping. Brushing entails gently running your moistened toothbrush along your tongue from back to tip. This is most effective after you spit out your toothpaste after brushing your teeth, but without rinsing, so there is still toothpaste residue in your mouth and on your toothbrush. Gently scrub your tongue, the roof of your mouth, and the inside of your cheeks before rinsing to get an all-around cleaning effect.
For a more thorough cleaning, you could try using a tongue scraper, which can be found in the dental section of most drugstores. Stick your tongue out and place the scraper at the back of your tongue, sliding it toward the front with even pressure. Rinse the scraper and repeat the process, making sure to move the scraper from back to front so as to avoid accidentally swallowing any loosened bacteria. Once your whole tongue has been scraped clean, rinse the scraper and brush and floss as normal.
Cleaning your tongue is an easy step to add to your oral healthcare routine. It takes just a few minutes and can save you so much trouble down the road. And, your breath will smell leaps and bounds better!
About the Author
Dr. Krunal Patel studied dentistry in India before moving to the U.S. to earn his doctorate from the New York University College of Dentistry in 2014. He is a certified Invisalign provider and a member of the Academy of General Dentistry as well as the American Dental Association. He recently joined the NeoSmile Dental Care practice in Spring House, PA and hasn’t looked back. To learn more about the importance of cleaning your tongue, click here to visit Dr. Patel’s website.
