Most people think about brushing and flossing when it comes to oral hygiene, and that means they’re forgetting about one important area: the tongue. If you want to maintain good oral health, you need to clean your tongue regularly. When you do so, you avoid bad breath and improve your overall dental wellness by removing harmful bacteria. This article will serve as a guide on how to clean your tongue properly, the benefits of tongue cleaning, and why you should clean your tongue every day.
If you live in northern NJ, you can always rely on the best family dentists in Livingston for expert advice and professional cleanings. But first, let’s walk through the steps of tongue cleaning and why you should make it part of your daily oral hygiene routine.
Why You Should Clean Your Tongue Daily
Most people understand the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth, but a lot of them forget about cleaning their tongue. It plays a huge role in harboring bacteria that can affect your breath and your health. Here are a few of the reasons you should clean your tongue every day:
- Fights Bad Breath: The bacteria on your tongue are the main cause of 90% of bad breath cases. Therefore, regular cleaning removes these bacteria, so your breath stays fresh throughout the day.
- Improves Taste: A buildup of debris, food particles, and bacteria on your tongue can dull your taste buds. By cleaning your tongue, you can enhance your sense of taste, allowing you to enjoy food flavors more fully.
- Reduces Risk of Oral Diseases: Bacteria on your tongue don’t just stay there; they can spread to your teeth and gums, contributing to plaque buildup and making you more likely to develop cavities and gum disease. When you make tongue cleaning a part of your daily routine, you reduce the risk of these common dental problems.
- Contributes to Overall Oral Hygiene: Your mouth is an ecosystem, and each part—including your teeth, gums, and tongue—plays a role in maintaining oral health. When one is neglected, it impacts the entire system. A clean tongue contributes to overall oral cleanliness and helps prevent oral health issues in the future.
You can also get some tongue cleaning tips from the best family dentists Livingston residents trust to make sure you’re doing it correctly.
How to Clean Your Tongue Properly
Now that you know how tongue cleaning can help, it’s time to look at how to clean your tongue properly. It’s easy enough to add tongue cleaning into your daily routine, but you’ll get the most benefits from using the right techniques.
Step 1: Choose Your Tools
You can clean your tongue with a regular toothbrush or a tongue scraper. While many toothbrushes have a rough surface on the back specifically for tongue cleaning, a dedicated tongue scraper tends to be more effective.
A tongue scraper is a small tool designed to remove bacteria, food particles, and dead cells from the surface of your tongue. Most family dentists, including those in Livingston, recommend using a scraper for the best results. They apply even pressure across the entire surface of the tongue, so they’re better at removing debris than a toothbrush.
Step 2: Start from the Back
Once you have your tool, open your mouth and stick your tongue out as far as possible. Start cleaning from the back of the tongue, since this is where the most bacteria are. Gently scrape or brush forward toward the tip of your tongue. Be sure to apply light pressure to avoid irritation, especially if you’re new to tongue cleaning.
Step 3: Rinse Thoroughly
After each scrape or brush stroke, rinse your tool under running water to remove the debris and bacteria. You should also rinse your mouth with water or an antibacterial mouthwash to wash away any loosened particles and leave your breath feeling fresh.
Step 4: Repeat as Needed
Repeat the scraping or brushing motion several times until your tongue feels clean. It may take a few strokes, depending on how much buildup you have. Try to clean your tongue once every day, either in the morning or at night, after brushing and flossing.
Additional Oral Hygiene Tips from Livingston Family Dentists
Maintaining oral hygiene involves more than just tongue cleaning, however. You need to be brushing twice a day, flossing, using mouthwash, and visiting your dentist regularly for optimal oral health. Here are some additional oral hygiene tips Livingston family dentists often recommend:
- Drink Plenty of Water: Staying hydrated helps wash away food particles and bacteria that can accumulate on your tongue and in your mouth.
- Eat a Balanced Diet: Foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals can promote healthy gums and teeth, while sugary foods should be limited to prevent cavities and gum disease.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly: Even if you maintain a perfect oral hygiene routine at home, it’s still important to schedule regular checkups with your dentist. The best family dentists Livingston has to offer can provide professional cleanings, detect early signs of oral health issues, and give you personalized advice on improving your hygiene practices.
How Tongue Cleaning Helps
Tongue cleaning is a simple but essential part of your daily oral hygiene routine. When you add it to your morning or nightly brushing routine, you can fight bad breath, improve your sense of taste, and reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease. For Livingston residents, cleaning the tongue properly and maintaining good oral hygiene can be made easier with the help of the best family dentists in Livingston.
Don’t forget to speak with your local dentist for personalized advice, especially if you’re unsure about the best practices for keeping your mouth healthy. A clean tongue leads to a healthy mouth, and that’s something we can all smile about.
