Why and How You Should Clean Your Tongue

Do you ever have bad breath, even though you just diligently brushed and flossed your teeth? More often than not, the problem doesn’t lie with your brushing technique, but with the fact that you may not be properly cleaning your tongue. Since your tongue makes up a large portion of your mouth, it’s important that you keep it clean. Luckily, a dentist is here with some advice on how and why you should clean your tongue.

Why Do You Need to Clean Your Tongue?

Your teeth and gums aren’t the only places where bacteria and plaque can accumulate. They can also build up on your tongue. The surface of your tongue is covered in little bumps called papillae. Food particles and bacteria can easily get trapped within the grooves of the papillae. When this occurs, it can result in bad breath and a white discoloration of the tongue. Additionally, bacteria on the tongue can redeposit on the gums and teeth even after brushing and flossing, increasing your likelihood of oral infection.

How Do You Clean Your Tongue Properly?

There are two main ways of cleaning your tongue: brushing and scraping. Brushing entails using a moistened toothbrush to gently scrub your tongue from back to front. After cleaning your teeth but before rinsing your mouth out, run your toothbrush over your tongue from the back to the tip. That way, you still have toothpaste residue in your mouth to ensure your tongue stays extra clean. You can also avoid accidentally swallowing any bacteria you just cleaned off.

For an additional tongue cleaning method, you can buy a tongue scraper for cheap at most drugstores. Gently slide the scraper from the back of your tongue to the front. Rinse the scraper and repeat until the entire surface of your tongue is thoroughly cleaned. Brush and floss afterward for good measure.

How Often Should You Clean Your Tongue?

If you truly want to reap the rewards of cleaning your tongue, you should add it to your daily oral hygiene regimen. Bacteria build up in your mouth every day, and that includes on your tongue, so make cleaning it part of your everyday routine.

Although tongue-cleaning may seem strange at first, since it’s so uncommon, you should stick to it every day. Soon it will become part of your daily routine, just like brushing, and you’ll start to feel dirty if you don’t do it!

About the Author

Dr. Ukti Phadnis strives to make every patient at West Hartford Dental Group feel relaxed and comfortable in the office. She is also highly qualified in many areas of dentistry, including preventive care, such as cleaning your tongue. If you have any further questions about cleaning your tongue, don’t hesitate to visit Dr. Phadnis’ website.