The Best Ways To Clean Your Tongue
When you brush your teeth, do you take time to brush and clean your tongue too? If you are like a lot of people, you may never clean your tongue. Failing to keep your tongue clean can present risks in your mouth, as your tongue holds a lot of bacteria. Here are some tips to help you learn the best methods for cleaning your tongue.
Use your toothbrush
The first method you could use to clean your tongue daily is brushing it with your toothbrush. When you brush your teeth, make time to brush your tongue afterward. As you do this, you may struggle with feelings caused by the natural gag reflex. If so, this may cause you to avoid brushing your tongue, but this reflex should not stop you. Instead, try doing it slowly and gently. You do not need to be forceful when brushing your tongue, and you should aim to brush with single strokes. You should brush from back to front and from side to side. Afterward, rinse your mouth and your toothbrush really well to remove bacteria and plaque from your toothbrush.
Use a tongue scraper
The second method you could use is a tongue scraper, which you can buy at a pharmacy. Tongue scrapers come in many forms. Some are the type you can use over and over, while others are disposable. When you use one, start at the back of your tongue and work your way forward with single strokes. This will help you remove plaque, bacteria, and buildup from your tongue, and it will leave your tongue cleaner and fresher. If you use a reusable scraper, make sure you clean it thoroughly after each use. If you use a disposable one, you can simply throw it away when finished.
Maintain a tongue cleaning routine
You can use either of these methods to clean your tongue, or you could use both options. The best thing to do is to try to clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. In other words, take time each morning and night to thoroughly clean the buildup from your tongue. This will result in fresher breath, and it could even help you control decay from forming in your mouth.
Learning how to keep your tongue clean is just as important as having good brushing habits. If you have questions about cleaning your tongue or mouth, contact a dental clinic, such as Thornley Dental.