How does brushing your tongue help?
Brushing your tongue can be part of maintaining good dental hygiene. In fact, most dentists recommend doing it. The main emphasis for dental hygiene is brushing and flossing. Never-the-less, you should also consider cleaning your tongue.
Why does brushing your tongue matter?
Even though very few people have problems with their tongues, bacteria lingers on the tongue.
Healthline.com explains that tongues aren’t smooth. They have cracks and grooves where bacteria can hide.
Even though you rinse your mouth or use mouthwash, there’s a biofilm buildup that still sticks to your tongue’s surface. Perhaps you can remove an outer layer of biofilm by rinsing. However, inner layers of biofilm will cling to your tongue unless brushed or scraped away.
When you don’t get rid of these bacteria, they can damage your teeth or cause bad breath.
Is there a right way of brushing your tongue?
As a matter of fact, there is. Here are the simple steps to follow:
- Brush side to side
- Brush backwards and forwards
- Don’t brush too hard (you could break the skin)
- Rinse your mouth with water afterward
You can also use a tongue scraper to remove the biofilm on your tongue.
Benefits of Tongue Scraping
Tongue scraping has its advantages. It can help your sense of taste. It can make it easier to taste the differences between salty, sweet, bitter and sour tastes. It can also get rid of a white coating on the tongue. In addition, if you scrape your tongue twice a day, it will reduce the bacteria in your mouth.
Do you have other questions about dental health?
Give us a call at Hutto Hippo Family Dental. Our friendly staff is glad to answer your questions. At Hutto Hippo Family Dental, we don’t believe in making patients wait. Your time is valuable, and we know that. We strive to get you in as soon as possible.
Our number is (512) 806-7740.
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