The Importance of Brushing Your Tongue

TL;DR

Brushing your tongue is an essential but often overlooked step in oral hygiene. It removes bacteria that cause bad breath and contribute to decay. Using a toothbrush or scraper ensures freshness, prevents buildup, and supports overall oral health. Consistency and dentist visits complete a strong dental care routine.

• Tongue brushing targets harmful bacteria missed by regular brushing/flossing.
• Helps prevent bad breath, tooth decay, and gingivitis.
• Methods: toothbrush with toothpaste or a tongue scraper.
• Recommended motions: front-to-back, side-to-side, circular.
• Scraping should follow brushing for best results.
• Consistency plus regular dental visits ensures long-term oral health.

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You’ve likely heard of the importance of flossing, rinsing, and brushing at least twice a day. But while that’s great for your teeth and gums, there’s another part of your mouth that often gets overlooked in the conversation. Specifically: your tongue.

While brushing your tongue isn’t commonly mentioned in dental care guides, take note. We’re here to say it’s a critical part of your oral health routine. Here’s why.

What Happens While Brushing Your Tongue?

While brushing and flossing your teeth are about layering fluoride and removing plaque, they’re only part of the story. Brushing your tongue is about one unique thing, and one thing only: bacteria. And more specifically: getting rid of unwanted bacteria.

Your tongue collects bacteria throughout the day and night. It’s these little critters that can lead to frequent bad breath. But they can also help aid in tooth decay, gingivitis, and more.

When you brush your tongue, you help to remove bacteria from your tongue’s top layer. This helps it to maintain balance and cleanliness without the need for harsh chemicals or prescriptions.

Do you need to brush your tongue? No, but it greatly helps to ensure a mouth free from bacterial growth.

How to Brush Your Tongue

So, you’re likely saying, how exactly are you supposed to brush your tongue?

There are a few ways to brush your tongue to ensure a fully clean mouth. And each is effective and safe for your daily routine.

The first involves using the very toothbrush you already use to clean your teeth. Simply apply a small bit of toothpaste and water to your soft-bristled toothbrush and brush the top of your tongue thoroughly. Ensure a few different motions for maximum coverage, including:

• Front-to-back,
• Side-to-side, and
• Circular.

Once don’t brushing after a few seconds, be sure to spit out any collected saliva, toothpaste, and otherwise.

Another proven method to clean a tongue is by using a tongue scraper. These flexible plastic contraptions help to scrape the top layer of the tongue, akin to a squeegee on a pane of glass. Simply start at the back of your tongue and scrape forward in a single, continuous motion. Spit out the collected debris once finished.

Just be sure not to harm your taste buds with too strong or vigorous a scrape!

But should I scrape my tongue before or after brushing, you’re likely asking. We recommend after. This will ensure you are removing any of the bits of food and bacteria that came loose during your prior routine steps.

Make Your Dentist Proud

Remember that when it comes to your good oral hygiene routine, perfection isn’t as important as consistency. Your mouth requires regular, thorough care to stay healthy and properly functioning. Brushing, flossing, and, yes, tongue cleaning are a part of that regular routine. And so is a scheduled visit to your dentist.

If you need a dentist that is different be design, Dentologie is your place. Our dental practices in Seattle and Chicago offer relief to patients who want the best for their mouths.

We love working with patients to help them transform their smiles into the healthy, beautiful visages they need. And we love supporting patients who know dental health means body health.

If you’re ready to make your dentist proud, book your next appointment with Dentologie. Book your visit today!