My BEST Dentists Journal

All Journal Entries
Share

Seven Issues You Can Avoid By Brushing Your Tongue

Do you want to enhance your dental health and avoid certain frequent mouth problems? Take a look at your tongue! Yes, taking care of your tongue can help avoid bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, infections, and other problems. Brushing your tongue can have a surprising effect on your dental hygiene. So take your toothbrush and read on to learn about the seven problems you may avoid just by implementing this sometimes-forgotten step into your daily routine. It’s past time to pay attention to our tongues!

1.- Bad Breath

Imagine you’re talking to someone, and suddenly, their face gets scrunched up in disgust. You know immediately that the feared comment about your bad breath is coming. It can be embarrassing and make you feel bad about yourself for the rest of the day.

But don’t worry! Brushing your tongue is the best way to get rid of bad smells. There are a lot of germs on our tongues, and they love to eat leftover food and dead cells. Over time, these bacteria make sulfur chemicals, which cause that smell we all hate.

By brushing your tongue often, you remove the bacteria’s place to grow and keep them from returning. This simple step makes it much less likely to have bad breath all day.

2.- Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a problem that many people have with their teeth. It happens when your teeth’s enamel starts to break down, which can lead to cavities and, in the end, tooth loss. Did you know brushing your tongue can help keep your teeth from getting cavities?

When you brush your tongue, you eliminate germs and leftover food from your mouth. These bacteria make acids that break down the enamel on your teeth. Over time, this makes your teeth weaker. By cleaning your tongue often, you can reduce the number of bad bugs in your mouth and make it less likely that your teeth will get cavities.

So remember to pay attention to your tongue the next time you brush your teeth. It’s an easy and effective way to keep your mouth healthy and prevent tooth damage.

3.- Gum Disease

Gum disease is a common problem that affects many people, and if it isn’t handled, it can lead to serious consequences. This happens when germs in the mouth get into the gums, making them swollen and red.

Gum disease is often caused by not taking care of your teeth. Plaque builds up along the gumline when you don’t brush your teeth often or well enough. Plaque gets hard over time and turns into tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist.

Gingivitis is the first step of gum disease. If it worsens, it can lead to more serious periodontitis. This advanced gum disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth and damage the bone structure below.

The good news is that brushing your tongue daily can help prevent gum disease. You can get rid of bad germs in your mouth by brushing your teeth and tongue twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush or tongue scraper.

4.- Infections

Infections can pose a serious threat to your dental health. Negative bacteria can build up on your tongue if you don’t brush it frequently, which might result in infections in your mouth. These infections may make you feel uncomfortable, painful, or even swollen.

Thrush is a typical infection that might happen. A fungal infection called thrush causes white patches to develop on the tongue and within the mouth. It can be rather unpleasant, and getting rid of it can require medical attention.

Glossitis is a different infection that might appear. The condition results in tongue inflammation, making it look red and swollen. Glossitis can make speech and swallowing challenging in severe cases.

You should brush your tongue to help avoid these diseases as part of your everyday oral hygiene regimen. You must use a tongue scraper or a toothbrush with gentle bristles.

5.- White Tongue

An issue that many people deal with at some time in their lives is having a white tongue. It describes the appearance of a white layer or patches on the tongue’s surface. Even though it might not always be a reason for alarm, it can point to underlying health problems.

Poor oral hygiene is one potential contributor to a white tongue. If you don’t routinely brush your tongue, bacteria and food particles may build up on its surface and cause discoloration. Additionally, this issue might be exacerbated by smoking and other drugs.

Oral thrush, brought on by an overabundance of yeast in the mouth, is another potential cause of white tongue. People with low immune systems or recently taking antibiotics are more prone to developing this illness.

A white coating on the tongue can also be caused by dehydration and dry mouth. The tongue can seem whitish if there isn’t enough saliva to wipe away dead cells and other debris from the surface.

While most occurrences of the white tongue are innocuous and transient, it’s crucial to remember that severe or persistent cases should be examined by a dentist or healthcare provider for correct diagnosis and treatment.

Maintaining proper oral hygiene habits is essential to preventing the development or worsening of a white tongue. These include brushing your teeth twice daily and gently wiping your tongue with a toothbrush or specialized tongue scraper. Along with keeping your mouth hydrated, drinking lots of water throughout the day can assist.

6.- Swallowing Problems

Many people may experience significant difficulties swallowing; therefore, you might be surprised to find that frequent tongue brushing can help. Bacteria and debris can build up on our tongues if we don’t properly clean them, which increases the risk of having trouble swallowing.

Dysphagia, or having trouble swallowing food or drink, is a typical issue. If not treated properly, this condition may cause discomfort and result in choking. You can reduce the accumulation of bacteria that could cause dysphagia by brushing your tongue daily as part of your oral hygiene practice.

Feeling like a lump in the throat or something is stuck is another concern associated with difficulties swallowing. The Globus pharyngeus, a benign disorder that produces discomfort but typically doesn’t signal any major medical issues, is frequently linked to these symptoms. Cleaning your tongue regularly might lessen the amount of bacteria that could increase this feeling.

Additionally, throat irritation and infections have been connected to poor oral hygiene. These ailments may make swallowing uncomfortable and challenging. By carefully washing it every day, you may lessen the likelihood that bacteria will grow on your tongue and cause these unpleasant infections.

7.- Taste Buds

Our sense of taste greatly influences our enjoyment of eating. Our tongue’s surface has several tiny sensory organs that enable us to distinguish between various flavors. Eating would be a drab and repetitive experience without taste buds.

When we eat, food molecules come into contact with the taste receptors on our taste buds, communicating information about the flavors of what we’re eating to our brains. Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (savory) are the basic sensations that taste receptors can identify.

Contrary to popular belief, taste buds aren’t uniformly distributed around the tongue. The tongue has various areas that are more sensitive to various tastes. For instance, the tip of the tongue is where sweetness is most easily tasted, whereas the back of the tongue is where bitterness is most powerfully felt.

Although the way taste buds work and contribute to our culinary experiences is intriguing, if they are not properly cared for, they can potentially develop problems. By allowing bacteria to build up on your taste buds, poor oral hygiene can reduce their sensitivity or leave your mouth with a persistently terrible taste.

Remember to incorporate tongue brushing in your regular oral hygiene regimen to ensure maximum tasting abilities and prevent any potential concerns related to your sense of taste!

How To Brush Your Tongue

Now that we know why brushing our tongues is so important let’s talk about how to do it right. Here are a few easy steps to take:

1. Wet the bristles of your toothbrush.

2. Spread out your tongue as far as possible without feeling pain.

3. Use a soft toothbrush to gently brush back and forth along the surface of your tongue.

4. Pay close attention to the back of your tongue, a common place for germs to grow.

5. Brush your teeth for another 30 to 60 seconds.

6. Rinse your mouth well with water or a mouthwash that kills germs.

Always use a soft-bristled toothbrush or buy a tongue scraper for a more thorough cleaning. By adding this small step to your oral care routine, you’ll get rid of bad breath, lower your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, infections, white tongue, eating problems, and even improve your taste buds! So don’t forget to brush every part of your mouth with care and attention! It will be good for your teeth and gums in general.

(11/06/2023)
by Dawson Modern Dentistry

More Information: N

Views: 232
Share


My BEST Dentists Journal Headlines