We practice oral hygiene on a regular basis to keep our mouths clean and therefore healthy. This means brushing and flossing your teeth. But many people do not know that you also need to clean your tongue during this regimen if you want to maximize oral cleanliness.
If you do not care for the health of your tongue, you might face a greater risk of unpleasant or harmful oral health concerns. You can talk to your dentist about your oral hygiene needs at your next dental checkup. And you can also read on to learn why you should never skip oral hygiene for your tongue as well as tips from your dentist to clean it as well as you can.
Risks of Skipping Tongue Hygiene
Though your tongue has a smooth, pink appearance, it actually features many papillae that give it a rough texture. These bumps feature sensory organs that allow you to taste, but it also creates spaces where bacteria can become trapped. Your mouth contains bacteria naturally, but too many bacteria can spread and heighten your risk of infections like gum disease.
Brushing your teeth and flossing will get rid of excess bacteria, food particles, and plaque in your smile. But if these residues linger on your tongue, then they can easily spread and cause harm to your oral health. Therefore, you will need to spend some time cleaning your tongue as well for maximum preventive dental care.
If bits of food or bacteria remain on your tongue, they will begin to emit a foul odor that can affect your breath as well. So if you want to prevent embarrassing bad breath, make sure you clean your tongue.
Tips for Cleaning Your Tongue Properly
Brushing your teeth and flossing alone will not be enough to keep your tongue as clean as it needs to be. Consider the following tips to ensure you practice good oral hygiene for your tongue:
- Complete your usual teeth brushing and flossing routine.
- Brush the surface of your tongue with a toothbrush or scraper.
- Rinse with mouthwash.
Adhering to your usual oral hygiene regimen is still important. You should get rid of plaque and other forms of buildup as much as you can. Just add this step of cleaning your tongue into your routine.
You may use your toothbrush to scrub away these residues from your tongue. Some people may prefer a tongue scraper instead because of its targeted purpose for removing buildup on the tongue. But both of these tools will work well to get your tongue clean.
Rinsing with mouthwash at the end of your oral hygiene routine is a good way to boost oral cleanliness. You can also choose an antibacterial product that will further keep bacteria balanced in your smile. This will lessen the risk of bacterial spread so that you can keep your smile healthy. Learn more about the benefits of good oral hygiene by asking your dentist at your next appointment.