Everyone realizes how important brushing one’s teeth is to optimal oral hygiene and good health in general. However, you might not realize that you must also brush your tongue to attain such aims. North View Dental, an oral care practice serving the residents of Ogden, Utah, and surrounding regions, invites you to read this brief post highlighting the reasons tongue brushing is crucial to dental well-being.
The Reasons You Should Brush Your Tongue
The Tongue Is Rife With Microbes
It may be unpleasant to consider, but numerous microbes like bacteria are present on your tongue at any given time. Pathogens accumulate between tongue structures like taste buds. Moreover, because the tongue is bumpy and crevice-laden, said microbes have numerous places to hide. Such circumstances make eliminating these potentially harmful organisms challenging.
Mouthwash Is Not Effective
Mouthwash plays several valuable roles. These rinses freshen your breath and might eradicate pathogens lingering on your teeth after brushing. However, these products are typically ineffective in terms of killing microbes residing atop and around the tongue.
Stain Elimination
Heavily colored foods or those comprised of powerful chemicals could stain your tongue. Beverages like coffee or heavily dyed foods can precipitate embarrassing discoloration that typically must be brushed to erase.
Gum Disease Prevention
If bacteria are not removed from the tongue, said organisms can combine with food particles to formulate plaque, which is notorious for contributing to tooth decay and potentially more serious dental maladies. That said, tongue plaque can trickle downward and collect on teeth and around the gums. If plaque progression becomes pronounced, gum diseases like gingivitis and the more significant periodontitis could result.
Infection Prevention
The prevalence of pathogens on the tongue can precipitate various types of oral infections. Sometimes, these ailments can be serious and have the potential to spread to other bodily regions.
Bad Breath Elimination
If you fail to rid the mouth of microbes, you stand at an increased risk of developing the embarrassing condition known as bad breath, which is known dentally as halitosis. Discernible degrees of halitosis can cause significant social issues.
Weakened Taste Buds
If you like to eat, few activities are more enjoyable than getting to taste your food and savor the flavors it produces. However, a bacteria-laden tongue weakens taste buds and threatens your ability to taste the products you consume.
Proper Tongue Brushing Techniques
Dental professionals opine that proper tongue brushing techniques are not complicated. The endeavor involves three straightforward steps, brushing back and forth, side to side, and concluding by rinsing your mouth with water. When performing this action, be careful not to use significant force. Doing so could scratch or possibly even break the tongue’s skin leading to pain or potentially bleeding. If you are so inclined, the brushing process can be completed utilizing a tongue scraper.
Contact Us
If you reside in Ogden or nearby suburbs and are looking for a dental practice to address the oral care needs of you and your family, please contact us. You are invited to call our professional and friendly office at your convenience to make inquiries or schedule an appointment. Further information about our practice and the services we provide can be found by visiting our website.
