Should I Brush My Tongue?

You know the importance of brushing, flossing, and caring for your teeth. One area of your mouth you may not be brushing is your tongue. Just as food and bacteria get trapped between your teeth, your tongue is also a magnet for bacteria. It has quite a bit of texture. Bacteria can build up on the tongue and not be fully removed from rinsing the mouth. We encourage our patients to brush their tongues when cleaning their teeth.

How to Brush Your Tongue
You can use your toothbrush to brush your tongue. Simply place a small amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush, start at the back of the tongue, and gently brush forward. You don’t want to be too vigorous or brush too hard because you can damage your tongue.

You can also purchase a tongue scraper, but it doesn’t necessarily clean your tongue better than your toothbrush. It is extremely important that you do not push the scraper into your tongue because you don’t want to do damage. To use it, place the scraper at the back of your tongue and gently pull it forward. It is important that you clean the scraper after each use.

Benefits of Brushing Your Tongue
One of the biggest benefits of brushing your tongue is preventing bad breath. Cleaning your tongue removes the bacteria that will eventually cause bad breath. Eliminating bacteria from your tongue can also improve how your food tastes.

If you have any questions about how to clean any part of your mouth, we are happy to help! Be sure to contact our office, which is located in Burton, MI, to schedule an appointment. We would love to see you if you need an oral hygiene examination or dental treatment.