Twice a day, you may brush and floss, but if you don’t target the bacteria living on your tongue as well, you may be doing your mouth a disservice. Your tongue’s health is just as critical as that of your teeth and it is necessary to maintain a healthy and clean tongue that does not nest bacteria to avoid some serious conditions.
Whether it’s for bad breath or just good dental health, tongue cleaning should be an important part of your oral hygiene regimen. Here are the benefits of cleaning your tongue:
1. Reduces sulphur compounds that promote bad breath
Halitosis (bad breath) is often caused by sulphur producing bacteria which generally live on the surface of the tongue. These bacteria sometimes begin to break down proteins at a very high rate and release odorous volatile sulphur compounds (VSC). A 2004 research concluded that tongue cleaning helped to eliminate volatile sulphur compounds that cause bad breath.
2. Decreases the bacterial count on your tongue
Unlike your teeth, your tongue has a rough surface that is full of several peaks and troughs that are the ideal place for settling and thriving bacteria. A 2014 oral health study found that tongue cleaning decreased bacteria on the tongue, but that levels remained low only if daily tongue cleaning took place.
3. Reduces plaque and keeps tooth decay at bay
In one study, researchers found that the overall incidence of Streptococci Mutans and Lactobacilli bacteria in the mouth was decreased by using a tongue scraper. These bacteria are responsible for major oral health problems and their elimination is vital to the prevention of cavities, gum disease, and other conditions affecting the mouth.
4. Enhances your sense of taste
When the plaque and bacteria cover your taste buds, you may find that the flavours of your food are muted. Research indicates that the sense of taste is improved by cleaning your tongue daily. Your tongue may be better able to differentiate between bitter, sweet, salty, and sour sensations. You will enjoy the rich flavours of your food when your tongue is clean.
5. It will boost your confidence
A cleaner tongue will provide the freshness your mouth needs to sweeten your conversations and improve your confidence.
It’s easy to concentrate only on your teeth and gums and forget about your tongue. But every day, with just a little extra effort, you can keep your tongue a lot cleaner and simultaneously improve your overall oral health.
