Got Bad Breath? Scrub Your Tongue!
4 Benefits of Cleaning Your Tongue

Did you know that your mouth has it’s own ecosystem?

On any given day, your mouth is home to more than 6 billion bacteria. That’s pretty impressive, considering the total human population is about 7.3 billion. And a lot of these types of bacteria – there are about 700 different species – enjoy calling your tongue home. Why? Because it’s a great place to live and feed off of leftover food particles, especially within the rough surface of your tongue.

Most of the bacteria in your mouth are considered normal. They actually work to protect your mouth in various ways, such as fighting tooth decay. But some of the bacteria living in your mouth like to disrupt the community harmony . This bacteria promotes cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and can also create problems for your overall health. As this bad bacteria gathers forces, they form a community called biofilm, also known as dental plaque; that slimy stuff you have on your teeth (and your tongue) when you wake up in the morning. Plaque build up is the number enemy of your mouth.

Fortunately, daily flossing and brushing will go a long way to maintain the peace, and bacteria balance, within your mouth. And your routine teeth cleanings will help out greatly too. But you can also complement your daily oral hygiene routine by giving your tongue a little daily attention. Brushing daily can work wonders to keep the bad bacteria in check too.

Why Brush Your Tongue? It Offers 4 Big Benefits!

1. It Reduces Bad Breath – Something that’s good for the planet!
2. It Improves Your Sense of Taste – Brushing your tongue and removing the build-up of plaque removes dull taste buds, so you’ll be able to really taste and enjoy your food.
3. It Helps Prevent Gum Disease – Bacteria build up on your tongue can spread to your gums, and then this can lead to other health issues.
4. It Boosts Your Immunity Levels & Digestive health – Your tongue is part of the first line of defense in your immune system. Scraping or brushing it helps prevents toxins from being absorbed into your body which in turn will boost your overall immune function. (Something we could all benefit from during life with COVID.)

How Should You Brush Your Tongue?

Ok, so how do you keep your tongue clean? There are two options. Incorporate either of these before or after you brush your teeth.

Brush Your Tongue With a Toothbrush – The Old School Approach.

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Place a small amount of toothpaste on your brush.
• Begin towards the back of your tongue and gently brush forward.
• Use a back-and-forth motion, like brushing your teeth – gentle, but firm pressure.

Use a Tongue Scraper
Made of metal or plastic, tongue scrapers are designed to fit the natural shape of the tongue. * Recent studies give the edge to the scraper for reducing bacteria by about 30% more.

• Place the scraper towards the back of the tongue and pull it forward towards the front.
• Be Gentle, and don’t press the scraper too forcefully.
• Move the scraper across your tongue at different angles for multiple times.
• Remove any excess food or debris from your tongue by rinsing your mouth with water.
• After every use, remove or rinse the tongue scraper so it stays sanitary & clean.

It doesn’t take long for bacteria to flourish in your mouth. But you can maintain a healthy balance and reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth by cleaning your tongue twice daily, after brushing your teeth. Removing that debris from your tongue before bedtime can also help reduce bad morning breath and get rid of it when you wake up. Just that in itself is a gift that that keeps on giving!

Making a habit of cleaning your entire mouth, including your tongue, can help keep your breath fresh and your teeth and gums healthy too.

If you’re experiencing on-going bad breath, no matter what you do, it could be related to dry mouth, or some other health related issues. We can help you diagnose it, and offer some treatment options. Please call us at (206) 242-0066 to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online!