Why You Should Be Brushing Your Tongue
The tongue is one of the most overlooked places in our mouth. In fact, many people forget that it’s there until they have an unpleasant experience with their meal and notice a foul taste or odor from chemicals being released onto this part of your body through disgustingly bad breath!
But don’t worry – cleaning your tongue isn’t hard to do at all; just use water like you would for brushing teeth twice per day.
Brush Your Tongue Because It’s Covered With Bacteria
Coffee turns your tongue brown, while red wine turns it red. Truth be told, your tongue is just as much if not more of a target for bacteria as your teeth are. Bacteria will accumulate greatly in the areas of the tongue between your taste buds and other structures of the tongue. There are crevices all throughout the tongue, creating the perfect place for bacteria to hide in and spread to the teeth, unless it is removed. This next article is also a fantastic read.
Rinsing Your Mouth Won’t Clean Your Tongue
Researchers have long been baffled by the inability of water and mouthwash to remove this sticky, protective layer that sticks on your tongue. Fortunately for everyone who hates waking up with a dry lump in their throat from morning breath, scientists may finally be able to explain why we can’t seem get rid of it. A study published earlier this year found out that these biofilms are actually groups made up entirely of microorganisms called bacteria or yeasts which form together like glue onto our tongues during sleep time! Amazingly enough, you don’t even need saliva as an ingredient because they use other substances such as mucus instead! This is especially interesting given how many people complain about having bad tasting food after not brushing teeth before bedtime.
“Only the outer cells of the biofilm are destroyed when mouth rinses are used, leaving bacteria in the cells beneath the surface to thrive,” says Dr. Isbrandt.
These bacteria can lead to tooth damage, cause bad breath, and give a foul color to your tongue. Therefore, it’s necessary to physically remove the bacteria by brushing or cleaning.
How to Clean Your Tongue
Dr. Isbrandt says you should brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth. The process is simple:
- brush side to side
- brush back and forth
- rinse your mouth with water
However, you don’t want to break the skin, so be careful not to over brush! Additional info.
A tongue scraper is a tool that many people prefer to use for good oral hygiene and halitosis prevention. These tools are available at most drugstores, but the American Dental Association says there’s no evidence as of yet if they actually do anything (other than scrape your tongue).
Bad Breath Even After Cleaning My Tongue
Cleaning your tongue usually makes bad breath go away, but if it’s still a problem you may want to consult with your dentist or doctor. Your tooth decay could be causing the smell that is bothering everyone around you!
At the very least, an easy addition to your daily dental routine is tongue brushing. Experts recommend making it a regular habit.