Why Brushing Your Tongue Is Just as Important as Your Teeth

We can look after our teeth so well, but if we ignore our tongue, we may as well just stop now. Our tongue is constantly coming into contact with our teeth, every time we eat, when we speak and even when we are sat still. If we have a dirty tongue, we are just transferring bacteria onto our freshly cleaned teeth. Here is why you should be brushing your tongue every time you brush your teeth.

Build-up of Bacteria

Your tongue is a great home for bacteria and these can easily be transferred to your teeth when in contact with one another. Our mouth has a lot going into it and if you never clean your tongue, this bacterium will continue to build-up and build-up, causing damage to our teeth too, as well as causing bad breath.

What Happens When We Don’t Brush Our Tongue?

As we wash every other part of our body, why do we so often ignore the part that comes into contact with so much bacteria? Mouthwash is a start in getting rid of some of this bacterium, but it is not enough, as bacteria can hide between the taste buds. Therefore, it is necessary to brush the tongue daily and it is why most toothbrushes have bristles on each side.

The Best Way to Clean Your Tongue

You can clean your tongue by brushing with the soft bristles located on either side of a manual toothbrush. If you own an electrical toothbrush, you may not be able to do this. Purchasing a tongue scraper is the best and most efficient way of cleaning your teeth. Brush in the same way you would brush your teeth, side to side and up and down. When you have finished you need to take a mouthful of water and gargle, then spit, to remove any bacteria that have been removed from the tongue whilst brushing. If you notice you are still suffering from bad breath, this could be a sign of something else and you should speak to your dentist.

If you have any questions about brushing your tongue properly, ask your dentist for advice at your next check-up. They can give you tips on the best way to do so if you feel like you aren’t sure. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best dentist in Staten Island.