Why You Should Brush Your Tongue

Men and women sticking out their tongues
Group of man and woman sticking out their tongues.

At Millennium Family Dental, we do everything we can to give our patients high-quality care and help them make the best dental choices. Great dental health starts with daily habits. Going to the dentist for checkups and cleanings is important but there is more to a healthy mouth than that. Regular brushing, flossing, and eating healthy food is essential to keeping up good oral hygiene.

As your Meridian dentist, we want to give you tips and information on how to have the healthiest teeth possible. Plus, we know how important it is for our patients to have a beautiful smile that gives them self-confidence. Brushing your teeth regularly leads to whiter teeth and a healthier mouth.

Why Should I Keep My Tongue Clean?

There is more to brushing your teeth than just brushing and flossing twice a day. It is also essential to brush your tongue. This is because a lot of bacteria live on it and keeping your tongue clean will fight bad breath and also help your oral health.

The tongue is a hotbed of bacteria. Because of the uneven surface, the tongue makes it easy for bacteria to hide and dwell there. To reduce bacteria, you need to scrape it off using a toothbrush or tongue scraper.

While your tongue can’t get cavities, it is important to keep it clean and reduce bacteria in your mouth. It is not enough to just rinse your mouth. The bacteria on the tongue tends to stick on the surface and can only be removed by scraping/brushing it off. The bacteria, if left unchecked, can lead to tooth damage. Plus, who wants bad breath? Why not get ahead of that by brushing your tongue twice a day, too?

How Do I Clean It?

It is easy to clean your tongue. All you need to do is brush back and forth, brush it side to side, and then rinse it with water. Don’t brush too hard as you don’t want to break skin or hurt yourself.

Contact Us Today!

Give Millennium Family Dental a call to learn more about dental hygiene habits and how to keep your mouth healthy. Schedule an appointment with us today!