The basic routine to maintaining a healthy mouth is to brush your teeth twice daily with toothpaste, in addition to flossing. The one part of the mouth, however, that is often overlooked, is the tongue.
Yes, you also have to brush your tongue when you brush your teeth, according to the best dentist Hungary. The tongue is a spongy, springy organ, which makes it a haven for oral bacteria. Therefore, your tongue needs to be free of any bacteria before you rinse your entire mouth out every time you brush.
Here are all the benefits you get by brushing your tongue, exactly as you would as brushing your teeth:
Protects Your Taste Buds
Taste buds, as you already may know, are what make food items taste the way they do to you. But did you also know that bacteria on your tongue can lead to a duller taste? When you develop dead skin cells, bacteria, and other food particles on your tongue, they can easily get in the way of the flavors that you taste when eating newer food items. By simply cleaning your tongue often, you will always enjoys eating food items the way that they are intended to taste.
Eliminates Bad Breath
Believe it or not, but the tongue is the part of the mouth that is most responsible for a person’s bad breath. When bacteria forms on the tongue’s surface, it forms a rank odor. When bad breath is combined with a dry mouth, it creates a condition that is known as “halitosis”. Deciding to brush your tongue as you also brush your teeth can go a long way to prevent bad breath.
Reduces the Likelihood of Periodontal Disease
The best dentist Hungary has to offer, also warns about the likelihood of periodontal disease if you do not brush your tongue. Periodontal disease is like a more severe version of gingivitis, otherwise known as gum disease. By not brushing your tongue, the bacteria on it can spread to other parts of the mouth such as the teeth and gums, undoing any work that you have done in brushing your teeth in the bathroom. When left untreated, you can get periodontal disease, which can possibly lead to receding gums and loose permanent teeth.
Reduces the Likelihood of a Black Tongue
Black tongue is a condition that only occurs if left uncleaned for a long time, but if that happens, it can lead to some nagging issues, such as a hairy appearance, a loss in saliva, and more. Black tongue is nothing serious, but it certainly is a nuisance to come across. The tiny bumps on your tongue do not actually grow hair, but they collect dead skin cells that make it resemble hair.
Reduces the Likelihood of Yeast Infections
Yeast infections appear on the tongue and/or inner cheeks as white or light-colored lesions. This infection takes effect when too much bacteria grows inside the mouth. In this case, brushing with toothpaste will not be able to treat yeast infections, and instead an antifungal treatment will be necessary. That is why it is important to take the necessary steps to prevent this condition from taking root.
Do you really need to clean your tongue using your toothbrush and toothpaste? You certainly do. Fluoride toothpaste can clean your tongue just as effectively as cleaning your teeth. There are, however, specialty tongue brushes that exist to allow you to brush your tongue more thoroughly and reach all the way in the back, to boot. Ask your dentist about these specialty tongue cleaners and how they can work even better to clean your tongue of bacteria.