Oral hygiene is critically important to your overall health and wellbeing. Brushing and flossing are imperative because it eradicates bacteria that live inside of your mouth. Because most oral bacteria live on your tongue, it needs to be cleaned on a routine basis.
At Tooth Harmony, we understand how important it is to practice proper oral hygiene, including tongue care. We want all our patients to understand why tongue cleaning is necessary; therefore, the following article will provide you with three reasons why you need to clean your tongue.
Prevents Bad Breath
Your tongue captures a lot of bacteria. When you eat, drink, and breathe, bacteria cover the tongue’s surface and hardens like a layer of plaque.
If you don’t scrape the bacteria off your tongue using a tongue scraper or a toothbrush, bacteria will thrive, resulting in bad breath. Medically referred to as ‘halitosis,’ foul breath is a condition that affects thousands of Canadians.
Scrape or brush your tongue in the morning, after meals and before bed to prevent bad breath from becoming a chronic issue. Furthermore, remember to floss and drink plenty of water each day, as doing so will reduce your risk of halitosis.
Prevents Gum Disease
According to the Canadian Dental Association, 7 out of 10 Canadians will develop gum disease in their lifetime. This is a staggering and alarming number – taking the necessary steps to prevent gum disease is critical to your overall health and wellbeing.
Eliminating harmful plaque and bacteria from your tongue will strengthen your gums and reduce your risk of gum disease. When plaque meets your gums, it has the potential to cause inflammation and infections. Left untreated, infected gums may suffer from gum disease, which can also result in general health complications like heart disease.
Improved Taste
Out of all our senses, our ability to taste allows us to enjoy the flavour of our favourite foods and drinks. Your mouth has around 10,000 taste buds, and your tongue can host up to 8,000 of them. When your tongue is covered in bacteria, you’ll be unable to fully experience the flavour of your favourite meals and your favourite drinks. Cleaning your tongue regularly will enhance your tasting ability.
At Tooth Harmony, we take your health and well-being very seriously. We want to see all our clients boast strong oral health. Regularly brushing or scraping bacteria off your tongue will go a long way in establishing a healthy and happy mouth. If you don’t have a tongue scraper at home, you can use a stainless-steel spoon to remove bacteria from your tongue efficiently. Contact Tooth Harmony today to book an appointment or call us for more information.