The health of your tongue is a very important part of your overall oral health care, but it is easy to overlook the tongue when brushing your teeth. Even the phrase “brushing your teeth” excludes the tongue! In today’s blog from the Parkcrest Dental Group, we’re giving special attention to the topic of tongues. For everything from tasting to talking, your tongue is a major part of your daily life, so make sure it’s healthy!
How to Tell if Your Tongue is Healthy
Many people don’t think much about whether their tongue is healthy, so they may not know the signs of a healthy tongue. Similar to your gums, healthy tongues are generally a uniform pink color, with no deep red colors or yellow colors. There may be a white colored film on your tongue, usually towards the back. This white film is similar to the plaque that forms on your teeth and gums, which is made up of bacteria, food debris and saliva. It’s a sign that your tongue could be healthier, but the white film can be removed with healthy dental care.
Tips and Tools for Healthy Tongues
Basic toothbrushing is great for your overall dental health, but taking good care of your tongue requires some extra tools and techniques. Here is a list of tips and tools that will help keep your tongue healthy.
- Do the basics for your overall dental health. Brush at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and avoid sugary snacks and drinks.
- Brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth. Brush in small circles, beginning towards the back of your tongue and work your way forward. This can help remove that while film that builds up on your tongue.
- Try a tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers are simple tools that help remove the bacterial white film on the surface of your tongue.
- Use a mouthwash after brushing. Choose a mouthwash that is designed to kill bad germs and prevent cavities, such as Listerine.
Visit Your Dentist and Discuss Tongue Health
Perhaps you have never used a tongue scraper before; bring one along to your next Dental Exam and Cleaning and Parkcrest Dental Group will be happy to show you how. Maybe you would like advice about which mouthwash is strong enough, without being unpleasant to use — we can help with that too. Perhaps you have concerns about bumps or discoloration on your tongue — Parkcrest Dental Group is here for you. We will help to identify any issues and provide treatment to make your smile healthy and beautiful.
Overall Wellness at Parkcrest Dental Group
At Parkcrest Dental Group, we want to help patients achieve overall wellbeing. Just as tongue health is an important part of your overall oral health, your oral health is an important part of your whole body health. Contact us today to find out how we can help you!
