When people think of good oral hygiene, tongue cleaning is not a step they usually consider. This is a mistake for multiple reasons. Dental Care 4U will highlight the multiple benefits of tongue cleaning.
Benefits Of Cleaning Your Tongue
Better Overall Health: According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), your mouth is full of about 700 species of bacteria and fungi. Some microbes are helpful, while others cause tooth decay, gum disease, and plaque buildup. Brushing and flossing can remove harmful bacteria. But harmful bacteria can also build up on your tongue. Removing this bacteria buildup is essential to your overall health. Tongue scratching can remove harmful bacteria that inflame the gums and cause tooth decay. Neglecting these best practices for proper oral hygiene can lead to other problems like heart disease, cancer, and more.
Improve Your Taste: Tongue cleaning can improve taste perception. Once your tongue is clean you may be able to distinguish bitter, sweet, salty, and sour sensations better. See if you notice a stronger flavor profile the next time you prepare sweet or sour food.
Fresher Breath: Many odor-causing bacteria live on your tongue. To avoid bad breath, it’s not just your teeth and gums that you need to watch out for – your tongue plays a role too! Certain bacteria on the back of the tongue interact with food and produce odorous sulfur compounds and scraping is a way to remove bacteria that toothbrush and floss can’t reach.
Map of the body: The tongue is a map of the internal organs. The coating of a specific area of the tongue indicates the presence of toxins in the organ corresponding to that area. Your tongue can give clues about different organs lungs, heart, chest, pancreas, and small and large intestines.
Help Your Digestion System: A coating on the tongue indicates that your digestive system is not absorbing nutrients adequately. Daily scraping of this coating will help. The mouth is the gateway to digestion, and improving general oral hygiene may improve digestion.
How Do You Clean Your Tongue?
Complete your regular daily routine of brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Then stick out your tongue and with gentle pressure, move the scraper over the entire tongue surface once or twice, starting at the very end of the tongue and moving forward. It should not hurt or damage your tongue. You may be pressing hard on the scraper if your tongue hurts during the procedure. Rinse the spatula with warm water after each pass, then rinse again and rinse your mouth with water. It’s a quick and easy final step to add to your oral hygiene routine, but it will help keep your mouth clean. If you have any questions regarding oral dental care or tongue cleaning consult with your dentist.
Dental Care 4U For You And Your Loved Ones
There are many facets to a healthy life including oral care. Using a tongue scraper daily combined with a regular oral routine is one way to improve your oral health. When it’s time for your biannual dental checkup, Dr. Raj Khurana can support your health with cosmetic, general, and restorative dentistry.
At Dental Care 4U, we strive to provide pain-free and modern dental services. Whether you need a root canal, tooth extraction, or orthodontic treatment, we can put your health on the road to success. Dr. Raj Khurana and the team have been operating Dental Care 4U for over 20 years, and are proud to offer the very best South Holland, IL, and the surrounding communities. Call us today at 708-333-2213 for an appointment.
