When we think about keeping our mouth clean, we mainly think about the essential elements such as brushing and flossing. People who practice a healthy dental routine will often brush their teeth and floss twice a day, but is that enough? The tongue is often overlooked in a dental hygiene routine. Should you be cleaning your tongue as thoroughly as you do your teeth? Parkcrest Dental Group has the answers.
Why Should I Clean My Tongue?
Your tongue is coated in bacteria just like your teeth. Bacteria lodges in the tiny crevices of your tongue where it can’t just be rinsed away. When bacteria lingers for too long, a person may experience bad breath.
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How Do I Clean My Tongue?
There a quite a few methods you can choose from to keep your tongue clean and the bacteria at bay.
Toothbrush: After you’re done brushing your teeth, brush your tongue with the bristles of your toothbrush. This will clean the crevices on your tongue and remove the bulk of bacteria still hiding.
Use Mouthwash: Mouthwash will only eliminate the bacteria on the surface of the mouth, but it’s an excellent first step to better tongue hygiene.
Tongue Scrapers: Tongue scrapers are built for cleaning your tongue, so they’re the most effective tool available. A tongue scraper is a small plastic tool used to scrape the bacteria from your tongue after brushing. Hold the handle of the tongue scraper and pull down on your tongue. Be sure to rinse after every scrape, as you don’t want to put bacteria back on your tongue after you’ve just gotten rid of it.
Related Post: What Are Tongue Scrapers? How Do You Use One?
Have a Healthy Mouth at Parkcrest Dental
At Parkcrest Dental, a clean mouth is a happy mouth. If you struggle with cleaning your tongue or keeping up with your oral health, our team of dentists is here to help. Call our Springfield, MO, office today at 417-887-1220 to make your first appointment with us.
