Published: 12/03/2019
When you finish brushing your teeth for the morning or night, brushing the tongue tends to be the last step. And, if it is not in your teeth brushing routine, you are doing yourself a disservice.
We brush our tongues as part of our dental routine because the tongue harbors bacteria. The tongue has taste buds and other crevices, which allows food debris, plaque and bacteria to settle and not move. This mixture will stay on the tongue, even with saliva because of the elevations.
When brushing the tongue, you remove the bacteria and other particles that lend itself to bad breath and accumulation of debris. When brushing, you should motion your toothbrush side to side and back and forth. These motions ensure you get around every taste bud and crevice. Also, like when brushing your gums, you should be gentle because you do not want to break the skin. Keeping up with brushing your tongue will reduce the plaque and bacteria in the mouth that settles, and help with bad breath.
If you’re in need of more guidance of how to properly care for your teeth and why you should be brushing your tongue, consulting with your dental profession would be the most beneficial. They will be able to guide you on whether or not you will benefit from a tongue scraper, or if your toothbrush is cleaning your tongue efficiently and effectively.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist for your cleanings and contact your dental office if you have any further questions on your oral care.
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