While most people do brush twice per day and floss at least once per day, a large number do not clean their tongues as frequently. A research study published in 2019 found that only 18.4% of the participants cleaned their tongues every day.
If you are not cleaning your tongue, you are doing yourself a disservice. Whether it is to fight bad breath or to just improve your dental health, tongue cleaning is vital. In this detailed guide, Straight Teeth Invisible will help you discover the benefits of tongue cleaning. What’s more, we will show you how to clean your tongue.
6 Reasons to Clean Your Tongue
1. To Eradicate Bacteria
What most people do not know is that the tongue is not smooth – it features elevations and crevices that create good hiding areas for bacteria. However, good tongue cleaning can eliminate tongue bacteria. A research study published in 2014 found that tongue cleaning is extremely effective in reducing tongue bacteria.
2. Improved Sense of Taste
When you fail to clean the tongue, it becomes coated in nasty bacteria, food particles, and a biofilm (plaque) that covers the taste buds. This can diminish your sense of taste.
A research study published in 2004 found that cleaning your tongue at least twice per day can help you improve your sense of taste. Tongue cleaning can help you better distinguish between salty, sweet, sour, and bitter sensations.
3. Avoid Halitosis (Bad Breath)
An embarrassing condition, bad breath is one of the major issues caused by not cleaning the tongue. A research study published in 2017 determined that the prevalence of halitosis was 75.1% among the participants. Yet another research study published in 2014 determined that the prevalence of bad breath was 78% among the participants.
Studies have determined that mercaptans and volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide are the primary causes of halitosis. A research study published in 2004 determined that using a tongue scraper during tongue cleaning reduces the volatile sulfur compounds by over 75% while using a toothbrush reduces these compounds by over 45%. This shows that tongue cleaning can be effective in getting rid of oral odor.
4. To Avoid Black Hairy Tongue
When the papillae found on the tongue become stained by drink and food particles, they give the tongue a black and hairy appearance. While a black hairy tongue is harmless, it can make your social encounters embarrassing.
Daily tongue cleaning, however, can scrape residues from the tongue. This will clear the tongue, improving its appearance.
5. To Avoid Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is a type of yeast infection. Oral thrush occurs when the levels of bacteria in the mouth overgrow – this, in turn, makes naturally-occurring yeast grow out of control.
The result is a yeast infection that appears on the tongue in the form of white patches. Once the yeast infection occurs, a good anti-fungal may be needed to cure it. Tongue cleaning, on the other hand, can keep the yeast infection from coming back.
6. To Avoid Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease
When you ignore cleaning your tongue for an extended period, the bacteria on your tongue can spread to your teeth. Once there, the bacteria can cause a condition known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is characterized by swollen, inflamed, and red gums.
If left untreated, gingivitis can continue to grow, turning into full-blown periodontal disease. In extreme cases, periodontal disease can make the gums pull away from the teeth – this can increase the risk of teeth loss.
What’s more, as the bacteria spread on your teeth and gums, they increase the risk of dental cavities. Cavities generally start as small holes at the back of your teeth. With time, however, these holes can cause full tooth decay.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, periodontal disease affects 47.2% of adults aged between 30 and 65 years. The CDC notes that periodontal disease affects 70.1% of people above 65 years.
According to the World Health Organization, 2.3 billion people suffer from cavities on permanent teeth. The WHO also notes that over 530 million children suffer from cavities on their primary teeth.
Tongue cleaning can help you avoid being part of the people suffering from periodontal disease, dental cavities, sensitive teeth, and other oral health problems.
Tongue Cleaning: How to Do It
Cleaning the Tongue with a Toothbrush
When brushing your tongue, follow the steps below:
Step #1: Brush the tongue back and forth.
Step #2: Brush your tongue side to side.
Step #3: Rinse your mouth with water.
When brushing your tongue, avoid overdoing it. Overbrushing can break the skin and create injuries.
Cleaning the Tongue with a Scraper
Most tongue scrapers will feature a slightly rounded shape. To use this tool to clean your tongue, follow the steps below:
Step #1: Standing in front of your mirror, open your mouth and stick the tongue out.
Step #2: Very gently, set the tongue scraper’s rounded end at the back of the tongue. If you are worried about gagging, start the scraping in the middle of the tongue. As you get used to scraping, you can gradually start the tongue scraping further back.
Step #3: Gently, put your scraper on the tongue. Slowly, pull the scraper forward toward the tongue’s tip.
Note: You should never push your tongue scraper from the tongue’s tip towards the back. Always go from the back to the tip.
Step #4: After each scrape, remove debris from the scraper with a tissue or washcloth.
Step #5: Repeat until you have scraped the tongue’s entire surface.
Step #6: Wash your tongue scraper with soap and warm water. Next, allow it to dry. Store in a dry and clean area.
Win in All Social Situations: Pair Good Breath with Straight Teeth
There is no doubt that proper tongue cleaning will give you good breath. However, if you have crooked teeth, tongue cleaning will not fix your problem.
What’s more, even with the best breath, smiling in social situations may be hard for you if your teeth are misaligned. Luckily, there is a solution for crooked teeth – you can use invisible teeth aligners to straighten your teeth.
The orthodontists at Straight Teeth Invisible have a deep understanding of teeth straightening. For years now, these orthodontists have helped thousands of patients regain confidence in their smiles.
When you book your FREE e-consultation, Straight Teeth Invisible will assign a specialized orthodontist to your case. Your orthodontist will:
Study your case closely to understand it.
Help you choose between dental braces and invisible teeth aligners.
Help you prepare for teeth straightening.
Prepare transparent teeth aligners that fit over your teeth perfectly.
Work with you until you are 100% satisfied with the appearance of your teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should I clean my tongue?
You should clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. According to the American Dental Association, you should brush your teeth twice per day. Therefore, you should clean your tongue twice per day.
How can I avoid vomiting while cleaning my tongue?
One of the biggest concerns during tongue scraping is the gag reflex. This can make you vomit during tongue cleaning. To avoid this, avoid placing your tongue scraper too far back on the tongue. Start scraping your tongue in the middle – instead of the back – to avoid throwing up.
How can I avoid injuries during tongue scraping and brushing?
When cleaning your tongue, you will need to be mindful of the pressure you are applying to the tongue. Be extra gentle to avoid breaking the skin or harming the taste buds. However, be firm enough to scrape all the debris from your tongue.
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