Did you know brushing your tongue is usually one of the first quick and handy tips your dentist will recommend to keep your oral hygiene up to the highest standards! Your tongue is a breathing ground for nasty bacteria. Brushing your tongue can help you fight bad breath and practice good oral hygiene. If you haven’t done it so far, here is why you should start it today.
Why Should You Brush Your Tongue?
There are microorganisms beneath the surface of your tongue that cause bad breath and tooth damage. Mouthwashes and rinses only address the bacteria on the surface. For the bacteria beneath, you need to brush them out.
How to Properly Brush Your Tongue?
You can brush your tongue with a toothbrush in a few easy steps. Don’t forget you should brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.
- Buy or consider a soft toothbrush
- Stick out your tongue
- Put your brush at the back of the tongue and start brushing forward and backward
- Spit out and rinse out with warm water
What Are the Benefits of Brushing Your Tongue?
There are three main benefits of brushing your tongue that we suggest you don’t miss:
Less Risk of Gum Diseases
If your gum gets infected, the soft tissue around your teeth will be damaged. Gum diseases might cause various health issues, from tooth decay and loss to heart diseases. Cleaning your tongue kills bacteria that could go from your tongue to your gum and cause infection.
Preventing Bad Breath
There is a longer-lasting type of bad breath called halitosis. This type differs from the bad breath you get from a certain food. To prevent halitosis, brushing teeth and tongue every day is recommended. If you only brush your teeth, a dirty tongue will still cause bad breath for you.
Helping Your Immune System
When you keep up good oral hygiene, your immune system appreciates it. Brushing your tongue clean the bacteria and toxin you eat throughout the day, and your body demands less of your immune system. That is why it is essential to keep your oral hygiene when sick so that you won’t cause more work for your immune system.
What Happens If You Don’t Brush Your Tongue?
Yes, there could be consequences for not brushing your tongue, and here are the most important ones:
Bacteria Building Up
If you ignore your tongue and brush only your teeth, bacteria build up on your tongue or its backside, leading to different health issues. You should brush the front and back of your tongue.
Weaker Taste Buds
One of the consequences of poor oral health is a lack of flavor when you eat or drink. The bacteria build-up on your tongue interrupts your taste buds, and not cleaning your tongue can permanently damage and weaken your buds.
Yeast Infection
A yeast infection could occur if bacteria build up on your tongue. If there are white patches on your tongue, it’s probably a sign of yeast infection. However, you need a visit with your periodontist for the exact diagnosis and treatment.
Your amalgam fillings could also cause a yeast called candida on your tongue. The mercury in these fillings leads to candida overgrowth, which breaks down intestinal walls and releases toxins into the bloodstream.
Do You Need More Help?
This article explained why you should start brushing your tongue today. Aria Dental is here if you are concerned about the bacteria buildup in your mouth and need help.
We are your trusted holistic dental provider, offering safe, non-toxic alternatives for every dental procedure. We are also a top certified member of IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology). Feel free to contact us and get a consultation today.
FAQ for Brushing Your Tongue
Are you supposed to brush your tongue?
Of course, cleaning your tongue is a big part of your oral hygiene.
Should you brush your tongue with toothpaste?
Certainly, toothpaste can help a lot in cleaning the bacteria build-up on your tongue.
How long should you brush your tongue?
Every time you brush your teeth, spend 15 to 30 seconds brushing your tongue at the end of your routine.
