Importance of Brushing Your Tongue

There are billions of bacteria living in your mouth right now on your teeth and tongue because your mouth is dark, warm, and wet, making it the perfect environment for bacteria to live and feed on leftover food particles. Because of this, we provide a list of the main reasons why brushing your tongue is important since reducing the bacteria in your mouth will help you maintain good oral health.

Why should you brush your tongue?

Reasons to brush your tongue:
  • The majority of the bacteria in your mouth lives and breed on your tongue’s rough surface. Although brushing your teeth eliminates bacteria sticking to your teeth, the bacteria on your brush is transferred to your teeth with your saliva in just a few hours.
  • It prevents bad breath.

How to brush your tongue?

Begin by brushing the back of your tongue, working your way towards the opening of your mouth, and rinse it with water thoroughly afterward. For deeper cleaning, you can use a tongue scraper. It is usually made of soft, flexible plastic and gently removes the mucus-based layer of debris from the tongue. It may break your tongue and cause it to bleed if you scrape too hard.

Here are five reasons why brushing your tongue is essential for your overall oral health:
  1. It removes harmful odor-causing build-up. The human tongue is a substantial organ that serves as a host for the majority of germs. By regularly brushing your tongue, you can successfully get rid of the halitosis-causing bacteria that build up on the tongue.
  2. It reduces the risk of periodontal disease. Gum disease and other disorders that spread throughout the body can be brought on by bacteria growth on the tongue. Inflammation can develop into periodontal disease if not managed (when your gums become infected due to deep pockets between your teeth and gums).
  3. It enhances the taste. Brushing your tongue and removing the build-up of plaque will remove dull taste buds and you’ll be able really to taste and enjoy your food.
  4. It reduces your risk of oral thrush. The condition known as oral thrush is most frequently brought on by an abundance of yeast in the mouth. White patches will develop on your tongue when the bacteria levels in your mouth get overly high. It can be treated with antifungal medicine, and daily tongue brushing should prevent a recurrence.
  5. It boosts your immunity levels and digestive health. Your immune system’s first line of defense includes your tongue. By scraping or brushing your tongue, you can stop toxins from being absorbed into your body, which can strengthen your immune system as a whole.

 

In case you’re not brushing your tongue regularly, remember that it’s an important part of your oral routine and very easy to do. If you’d like to learn more about how you can improve your dental health, contact our team.