Why You Need to Brush Your Tongue

You probably already know why it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss each and every day or as recommended by your dental care provider. Brushing and flossing are necessary to remove plaque and bacteria from the teeth to prevent decay and infection. But what you may not know is that it is important to clean your tongue on a daily basis as well.

The tongue is used to not only taste your food, but to push it back further in the mouth so the teeth can properly mash it for better digestion. Sugar and starch particles can cling to the tongue, where the tongue can act as the proper medium to grow these bacteria. These are the same bacteria that give you bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. These bacteria also affect the health in other areas of the body. Cleaning your tongue removes the bacteria and improves taste sensation.

To clean your tongue, you may use your toothbrush to gently scrub the surface of the tongue, then rinse thoroughly to remove the bacteria from the mouth. There are also specially designed tongue scrapers that you can buy that are easy to use. Just press on the back of the tongue while pulling forward to remove bacteria.

For more information, you can make an appointment with our dentist in West Hollywood for a cleaning, exam, and individualized recommendations on the best oral hygiene methods to use.

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