Brushing your teeth twice and flossing once daily are crucial for maintaining oral health. However, the often side-stepped aspect of tongue hygiene plays a significant role in oral care, especially in combating issues like bad breath. Including a thorough tongue cleaning in your dental routine keeps you refreshed and contributes to a healthy smile in several ways.
Let us delve into how tongue hygiene impacts overall oral health and enhances breath and discover simple techniques for keeping your tongue clean.
Why Should You Clean Your Tongue?
Many of us focus on brushing, flossing, and occasional mouthwash use for dental hygiene and often overlook the importance of a clean tongue. The Indian Dental Association points out that an unclean tongue could be a source of bad breath (halitosis). The mouth is a breeding ground for millions of bacteria. Though brushing and flossing keep the teeth and gums clean, they cannot eliminate the bacteria accumulated on your tongue.
Left undisturbed on the tongue, these bacteria can produce volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) responsible for bad breath and contribute to various dental issues, including gum diseases and cavities. By incorporating techniques to clean your tongue daily, you can effectively combat these problems and enjoy fresher breath and improved oral health.
How to Clean Your Tongue With a Tongue Scraper?
As the tongue is sensitive, it is essential to be gentle while cleaning it. The easiest way to do this is to use a tongue scraper (tongue cleaner) or a soft-bristled toothbrush. A tongue scraper is a soft tool made of flexible plastic or metal and comes in different shapes and sizes. It may bend in half to make a V shape or have a handle with a rounded edge on top.
Tongue scraping gently removes the thin layer of debris, bacteria, dead cells, and mucus-like coating from the tongue. Studies note that a tongue scraper or cleaner is more effective than a toothbrush at removing odour-causing bacteria. The following tips can be used for a quick and easy tongue cleaning using a tongue scraper before or after brushing the teeth:
Stick out your tongue.
Place the tongue scraper at the back of the tongue.
Press the scraper gently on the tongue using light pressure, and run it to the front.
Rinse the scraper in warm water to wash off bacteria and debris collected on the tool.
Repeat these steps multiple times, moving the scraper across the tongue at different angles.
Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water to remove the excess debris.
Remove or rinse the tongue scraper to keep it sanitary and clean for subsequent use.
How to Clean Your Tongue With a Toothbrush?
If not a scraper, a soft-bristled toothbrush can come in handy to keep your tongue clean. Though a toothbrush can be relatively less efficient at cleaning the crevices on the surface of your tongue, it is relatively easy to use. You may also consider a toothbrush with tongue cleaner for a potentially more effective cleaning. The following are the tips on how to clean tongue using a toothbrush:
Apply a small amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush.
Start at the back of your tongue, brushing all the way forward.
Use gentle but firm pressure in back-and-forth motions, like brushing your teeth.
Rinse the toothbrush with water when you are done brushing.
Incorporating an antibacterial toothpaste can help eliminate the odour-causing bacteria quickly. For instance, consider using Colgate Total Advanced Health toothpaste. Its unique Dual Zinc and Arginine formula fights bacteria on the tongue, teeth, gums, and cheeks, offering 12-hour protection for the whole mouth.
