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  • Dental Services
    • General Dentistry
      • Gum Disease
      • Tooth Extractions
      • Fillings
      • Root Canals
      • Dental FAQs
    • Orthodontics
      • Two-Phase Treatment
      • Early Orthodontic Treatment with Dr. Steven Harrison
      • Adult Orthodontic Treatment by Dr. Steven Harrison
      • Orthodontics for Teens
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      • Emergency Care
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        • Traditional Braces
        • Clear Aligners
        • Clear Ceramic Braces
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        • Invisalign at Parkcrest
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    • Tour Our Office
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    • Orthodontic Dentistry: Brushing & Flossing with Braces
    • Parkcrest Dental Group Radiology
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    • General Dentistry & Fluoride
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    • Meet Dr. Ropka
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Should I Be Cleaning My Tongue?

  • August 22, 2019
  • 8:36 am
  • Dental Care, FAQ
  • Tongue Scraper

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.

Related Post: How To Improve Your Tongue Health

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.

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Meet Some Dentists in Springfield, MO

Some of the doctors at Parkcrest Dental Group

Dr. Stuart Scott (top left) is our pediatric dentist. He earned his degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry before completing a two-year residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Dr. Steven Harrison (top center) is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Harrison, our orthodontist, graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He’s been with Parkcrest Dental Group since 1986.

Dr. Chanin Ropka (top right) attended UMKC before joining the United States Navy, where she served as the only dentist on board the USS Germantown and at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. Dr. Ropka began at Parkcrest Dental in 2001.

Dr. Daniel Fannin (bottom left) graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1997. He completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency in 1998 before joining Parkcrest Dental Group that same year.

Dr. Steven C. Sponenberg (bottom center) has been a Springfieldian his entire life. He graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2004 before joining Parkcrest Dental Group immediately after.

Dr. Jason Hall (bottom right) is also a native Springfieldian. He earned his DDS from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Dental School in 1997. He came to Parkcrest Dental Group in 2010. Dr. Hall’s father, Stan, is also a dentist.

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