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Do You Clean Your Tongue Daily? Here’s Why You Should

Between brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash every day, there is a lot to keep up with when it comes to maintaining your oral health. But there’s another step you might not have thought of: cleaning your tongue!

If you don’t currently clean your tongue every day, you should! Keep reading for everything you need to know, including why you need to clean your tongue and how often.

Why should you clean your tongue?

We all know that our teeth’s enamel can be worn down by acid and bacteria, causing cavities and tooth decay, and that is why we need to brush our teeth. The same goes for our gums, which can develop gum disease if we don’t keep the bacteria in our mouths under control.

But did you know that our tongues carry more bacteria than our teeth and gums? Unlike our gums and teeth, our tongues are porous, creating a perfect atmosphere for bacteria to settle and grow. In fact, our tongues usually have more bacteria than the rest of our mouths.

The bacteria on our tongues can transfer onto our teeth and gums and worsen problems like cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. It’s also one of the leading causes of bad breath! By cleaning our tongues every day, we can mitigate all these problems.

What is the best way to clean your tongue?

The main goal of cleaning your tongue is to remove harmful bacteria from its surface that can exacerbate tooth decay and bad breath. You can easily do this using your toothbrush! After you brush your teeth, add a bit more toothpaste to your brush and scrub your tongue, moving up and down and side to side. Use a moderate amount of pressure, but not so much that it is uncomfortable.

The front of our tongue is able to clean itself more than the back, so be sure to pay extra attention to the back of your tongue.

How often should you clean your tongue?

Ideally, you should incorporate cleaning your tongue as a part of your regular oral hygiene routine, cleaning your tongue once or twice a day. If you have a bad taste in your mouth between brushes, you can brush your tongue again.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Liberman today!

Concerned about your oral health during the age of coronavirus? Schedule an examination with Dr. Liberman today! Proactive dental care is the best defense against cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and other threats to your dental and overall health. To schedule an examination or learn more, contact us today!