Should You Clean Your Tongue While Brushing Your Teeth?

Cleaning your tongue is just as important as brushing and flossing your teeth every day. Your tongue develops a layer of bacteria throughout the day, just like on your teeth, and while your tongue will not develop cavities like your teeth do, it should still be cleaned.

Why should you clean your tongue?

The layer of build-up on your tongue is called a biofilm, which is a group of microorganisms that stick together. It cannot be cleaned by just drinking water or rinsing with mouthwash. These microorganisms and bacteria on your tongue can cause bad breath, also known as halitosis, and even tooth decay if your tongue is not cleaned regularly. The best way to clean your tongue is with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper.

How do you clean your tongue?

Using a tongue scraper is one way to clean your tongue. A tongue scraper is usually made of soft, flexible plastic that carefully scrapes away the mucus-like layer from your tongue. Using a tongue scraper should not be painful. Here is how to do it:

• Pull the scraper across your tongue several times from multiple angles.

• Rinse the scraper after each pass along your tongue.

• Rinse your mouth with water after each pass as well.

• You can also use your toothbrush to clean your tongue:

• Using a small amount of toothpaste, start at the back of your tongue and brush forward.

• Brush your tongue using gentle back and forth motions.

A healthy tongue is an important part of a healthy mouth. Call or stop by Ridge View Dental today to learn more about how to keep a healthy tongue!