Inside your mouth you should find space for eight molars, eight incisors, four canines and eight premolars. All of these need cleaning twice a day for at least two minutes. This, you might consider, is quite a lot of time. After spending time doing this you should add a few more seconds to clean your tongue. This is because it’s one place in your mouth that harbours bacteria and it is dangerous bacteria that can cause so much damage to your teeth without you knowing it’s actually happening. Bad breath also becomes more evident if you don’t clean your tongue often enough.

When tongue cleaning first started

Cleaning the tongue isn’t new as it originated in the days of the Roman Empire. It didn’t find its way to Europe until well into the 18th century. It wasn’t until the 19th century that tools were first invented to specifically clean the tongue. The tools were usually made from materials such as ivory, silver, turtle shell and bone.

How to clean your tongue and eliminate bad breath

A typical tongue cleaner today resembles a toothbrush with a larger head but it tends to have more bristles and is flatter. This type of design provides a high comfort level when used on your tongue to remove damaging food debris.

Bad breath, sometimes called halitosis, is an infliction that no one likes but it affects as many as 9 million British citizens. Sufferers tend to think that it can be solved by spending millions of pounds on over the counter products like mouth rinses, sprays, chewing gum and specially formulated toothpaste. However, to be absolutely realistic about the problem these sorts of products simply mask it, rather than solve it. One of the solutions is to clean the tongue because when debris left behind by food remains on the tongue for too long it starts to decay and ends up as a sulphurous compound which tends to give off an unsavoury odour.

Results from a recent study found in the journal Microbiology have revealed that tongue cleaning might remove 500 different kinds of bacteria, food debris, dead tissue and fungi. This means it’s essential to clean the tongue so these bacteria don’t find their way into your teeth and cause tooth decay. Even though food has a far greater chance of becoming trapped amongst your teeth, germs can form on your tongue that can spread elsewhere. If you fail to clean your tongue you may be more susceptible to the bacteria causing plaque build up and bad breath. This means you could end up losing teeth, which is quite avoidable.

The best way to avoid tooth loss is to make an appointment every six months with your De-ientes dentist who will advise you about the necessity of cleaning your tongue and who be able to catch any problems with your teeth at an earlier enough stage so treatment doesn’t become a big issue.

Boost Your Oral Health: Why Tongue Cleaning Matters

When it comes to oral hygiene, most of us focus on brushing and flossing our teeth, but cleaning your tongue is just as important. The tongue harbours bacteria, food particles, and dead cells, which can lead to bad breath, plaque build-up, and even contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. So, how do we clean the tongue properly?

You can clean your tongue by using a toothbrush or a specialised tongue scraper. Gently brushing or scraping from the back of the tongue to the front helps to remove harmful bacteria and debris. It’s a quick and simple step that makes a big difference in your oral health routine.

Do we need to clean the tongue regularly? Absolutely. The tongue is one of the primary places where bacteria thrive, especially towards the back. Without proper cleaning, this bacteria can cause a range of oral health issues, including persistent bad breath (halitosis).

The benefits of cleaning your tongue go beyond just fresher breath. Removing bacteria on the tongue helps reduce the risk of cavities, supports healthier gums, and improves your overall taste perception. Adding tongue cleaning to your daily routine can promote a healthier mouth and boost your confidence by giving you a fresher, cleaner smile. So next time you reach for your toothbrush, don’t forget about your tongue!

Tools for Tongue-Cleaning: Is a Tongue Scraper the Best Option?

When it comes to achieving a clean tongue, using the right tools makes all the difference. While brushing your tongue with a toothbrush is effective, many people find that a tongue scraper offers a more thorough clean. Tongue scrapers are specially designed to remove bacteria and debris from the surface of your tongue, which can help prevent bad breath and improve overall oral health.

But should you use a tongue scraper? The answer depends on your personal preference. Tongue scrapers are typically more efficient at removing bacteria on the tongue compared to a toothbrush, especially for those stubborn particles that accumulate towards the back of the tongue. After using a scraper, you can often feel and see the difference, providing a noticeable “before and after” effect for a truly clean tongue.

The benefits of brushing or cleaning your tongue go beyond fresher breath. Removing bacteria regularly helps reduce plaque build-up, improves your sense of taste, and supports better overall oral health. Incorporating a tongue scraper into your routine can provide a deeper clean, ensuring your mouth feels fresh and healthy every day.

So, whether you use a toothbrush or a tongue scraper, remember that this simple step is key to maintaining a clean and healthy smile!

If you have other questions about keeping your mouth healthy, don’t be afraid to contact us!