215-660-3636 Even if you brush twice a day, floss at least once a day and use a good mouthwash, if you are not cleaning your tongue, you are missing millions of bacteria. Yes, millions. Besides helping you to taste things and speak and sing, your tongue is one fertile bacteria farm. That bacteria can cause bad breath and other health problems, so it is a good idea to clean your tongue.
Fortunately, cleaning your tongue is not very difficult and does not take a long time. You can use your toothbrush to gently scrub your tongue from the back to the front, as well as cleaning the sides of your tongue. Some toothbrushes come equipped with a tongue cleaner. Toothbrushes however, are designed to clean the surfaces of your teeth, which are fairly smooth. Your tongue has grooves that your toothbrush can’t reach, and you may want to try using a tongue brush. Tongue scrapers are pieces of plastic or metal which you pull across your tongue from back to front to remove film and bacteria. It’s important to rinse your mouth and your brush or scraper after every use.
To learn more about keeping your tongue clean and getting the most out of your oral health care, talk to our dentist, Dr. Sindhu Gundabathula at Chalfont Dentistry in Chalfont, Pennsylvania. To make an appointment at our office, call 215-660-3636 today. We look forward to seeing you soon.