Do you know how to clean your tongue? Probably not. Most people don’t. In fact, many people think that they don’t need to clean their tongues because they brush their teeth regularly. This is a huge mistake. Your tongue is one of the most important parts of your mouth when it comes to oral hygiene, and it needs to be cleaned on a regular basis! In this guide, we will discuss the best way to clean your tongue and why it’s so important to incorporate it into your oral hygiene routine.
Your tongue is covered in bacteria. Some of this bacteria is good for you, but too much of it can lead to bad breath, tooth decay, and other problems. When you brush your teeth, you are only able to remove the bacteria from the surface of your teeth. The bristles of your toothbrush cannot reach all the way back to your tongue. This is why it’s so important to clean your tongue on a regular basis and remove this tongue coating.
What is the best way to clean your tongue?
The best way to clean your tongue is with a tongue scraper. Metal tongue scrapers are a small, metal tool that you can use to scrape the bacteria off of your tongue. It’s much more effective than brushing your tongue with a toothbrush. Tongue scrapers are becoming more popular as people realise the benefits of them for your overall oral health, particularly if you have a hairy tongue!
To use a tongue scraper, simply put it on the back of your tongue and scrape it forward. Rinse your mouth with warm water when you’re done. You should do this once per day, preferably in the morning before you brush your teeth. If you have a strong gag reflex, then do this late at night.
If you don’t have a tongue scraper, you can also use a toothbrush to for tongue cleaning. Just make sure that you’re using a soft-bristled toothbrush so you don’t scratch your tongue. You can also use a piece of floss to lightly scrub your tongue.
Whichever method you choose, make sure that you’re gentle and never scrape too hard. You don’t want to damage your tongue!
What is tongue scraping?
Have you ever looked in the mirror and seen a white film on your tongue? That’s called plaque, and it’s made up of bacteria, food debris, and dead cells. While brushing your teeth gets rid of plaque on your teeth, it doesn’t do anything for your tongue. That’s where tongue scraping comes in.
Tongue scraping is a practice that dates back thousands of years. It’s an effective way to remove plaque from your tongue, and it can also help with bad breath. Here’s what you need to know about tongue scraping.
How to tongue scrape
You can buy a tongue scraper at most drugstores, or you can use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
To tongue scrape, stick out your tongue and hold the scraper or brush at the back of your tongue. Gently move the scraper or brush forward. You don’t need to apply pressure — let the scraper or brush do the work. Rinse your mouth with water when you’re done.
You can tongue scrape once or twice a day, but be sure to do it before you brush your teeth. That way, the plaque and bacteria will be removed from your tongue before they have a chance to reattach to your teeth.
Benefits of tongue scraping or tongue
Tongue scraping has a number of benefits.
It can help with bad breath: Plaque and bacteria are often responsible for bad breath. By removing them from your tongue, you can also remove the source of the problem.
It can improve your sense of taste: A buildup of plaque on your tongue can affect your sense of taste. Scraping your tongue can help you taste your food more clearly.
It can promote oral health: Removing plaque and bacteria from your tongue can help reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease.
It’s safe and easy to do: Tongue scraping is a safe and easy way to remove plaque from your tongue. You can do it at home with a tongue scraper or toothbrush.
Do you use a tongue scraper before or after brushing?
I personally use a tongue scraper after brushing my teeth. I find that this gives me the best results in terms of getting rid of bacteria and food particles that may be stuck to my tongue.
Some people may prefer to use a tongue scraper before brushing their teeth, and there is nothing wrong with this. It really comes down to personal preference.
If you have never used a tongue scraper before, I would recommend giving it a try. You may be surprised at how much of a difference it can make in your oral health!
Is tongue scraping the same as tongue brushing?
Tongue scraping and tongue brushing are two different things.
Tongue scraping is a practice that involves using a tongue scraper or brush to remove plaque from your tongue. Tongue brushing is a practice that involves using a toothbrush to clean your tongue.
While both practices can help with bad breath, only tongue scraping has been shown to improve your sense of taste.
How do I get rid of plaque on my tongue?
There are a few things you can do to get rid of plaque on your tongue. First, you can brush your tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper. This will help remove any build-up of plaque on your tongue.
You can also try swishing water around in your mouth and then spitting it out several times a day. This will help loosen any plaque that is stuck to your tongue.
If you have a lot of plaque on your tongue, you may want to try using a mouthwash (after brushing) that contains an antibacterial agent. This will help kill any bacteria that are causing the plaque to build up on your tongue.
If you are still having trouble getting rid of the plaque on your tongue, you may want to see a dentist or doctor to get their professional opinion. They may be able to prescribe a medication that will help get rid of the plaque on your tongue.
Are you supposed to brush your tongue?
The answer is maybe. If you have good oral hygiene habits, then you probably don’t need to brush your tongue. However, if you have a buildup of plaque or bacteria on your tongue, then brushing your tongue can help remove that buildup.
If you do decide to brush your tongue, be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle strokes. You don’t want to irritate your tongue or cause any damage.
What happens if you don’t brush your tongue?
If you don’t brush your tongue, the plaque and bacteria can cause bad breath. In some cases, it can also lead to a more serious condition called periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that can eventually lead to tooth loss. If you have periodontal disease, you may notice that your gums are red, swollen, and bleed easily.
Should I brush the back of my tongue?
The back of your tongue is full of bacteria. However, brushing the back of your tongue can be difficult and even uncomfortable for some people. If you have good oral hygiene habits, you probably don’t need to brush the back of your tongue.
If you do decide to brush the back of your tongue, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle strokes. You don’t want to irritate your tongue or cause any damage.
The Bottom Line on Cleaning Your Tongue
Whether you choose to use tongue scrapers, tongue cleaners or tongue brushing you will notice that cleaning your tongue will not only banish bad breath but will also contribute to the overall health of your mouth. Dental medicine has realised the benefit when a person will add tongue scraping to their routing.
The tongue’s surface harbor bacteria and when we remove bacteria (just apply gentle pressure to the whole tongue) the health conditions improve. Keeping your tongue clean and free from volatile sulfur compounds has been medically reviewed in peer reviewed studies to help your dental hygiene and most dentists now incorporate this advice into their overall wellness advice.
