The key to a healthy oral routine involves more than just brushing your teeth twice a day. Regular checkups at the dentist, flossing, using mouthwash, and brushing your tongue all lead to a healthy and happy mouth. Our tongue can get pretty gross as we eat and drink whatever we please. Our tongues can get coated in food debris and tons of bacteria. Cleaning your tongue is the best way to ensure your mouth can be clean and healthy and prevent bad breath. If you’re wondering how to clean your tongue or how often you’re supposed to clean your tongue, you’re in the right place. Take a look below at some helpful tongue-brushing tips on how to keep your mouth clean and happy!
How To Clean Your Tongue
Cleaning your tongue is much simpler than you think. You may use a toothbrush or a tongue scraper to gently clean your tongue back and forth for 15-30 seconds. This will remove bacteria and help to eliminate bad breath temporarily. Be sure to scrap the whole area, including the sides, with a firm amount of pressure to ensure you get the best results. Scrape your tongue from back to front always, and ensure your toothbrush or scraper is wet to avoid damage. Learn more on how to properly clean your tongue.
How Often Should You Scrape Your Tongue?
Brushing your tongue twice a day is the best way to reduce bacteria in your mouth. This can become a part of your brushing routine as you brush your teeth in the morning and before bed. Doing this will improve your mouth and gum health and boost your confidence. Scraping in the morning can help to eliminate bad breath temporarily, and scraping at night will help to remove any debris from your tongue before bed while also preventing bad breath when you wake up.
5 Tongue Brushing Tips
Feel clean and healthy with these five helpful tongue-brushing tips below!
1. Pick The Right Size Scraper
Picking the right size scraper is important to ensure you get the right results. Adults can use wider scrapers compared to children, who should use a smaller size to properly fit their mouth, allowing them to have the best results.
2. Choose The Right Material For Your Scraper
Just like picking the right size, selecting a suitable material is essential. If you are not using a toothbrush, scrapers are available in different materials. Some come in plastic or stainless steel and can both provide safe results. Stainless steel will be your best choice if you are looking for long-term use. It is just important to understand it will need to be properly sterilized to keep your mouth clean from bacteria.
3. Stick Out Your Tongue
This may seem obvious but stick your tongue straight out to see it. Make sure you are comfortable and can reach all areas of your tongue, including the sides.
4. Rinse Your Mouth After
Rinsing your tongue after will help wash away the bacteria and debris left over. This will help keep your mouth fresh and clean once you finish the scraping process.
5. Stop If Irritated
If you brush your tongue too hard or become irritated, stop immediately. When scraping your tongue, you should be using a semi-firm amount of pressure, but nothing too hard that would irritate you. Anything painful or irritating on your tongue will cause other issues that you should avoid later.
Keep Your Tongue Clean With Dr. Emma Wu & Associates
At Dr. Emma Wu & Associates, we prioritize our patient’s concerns and health! If you are looking for ways to optimize your oral health, like brushing your tongue, call us today for more helpful tips, or schedule an oral exam. Contact us by filling out our contact form or call us at 978-686-2223.