Are you aware, keeping your teeth clean and healthy is an extremely important for your oral health care? You probably understand that failing to keep your pearly whites clean can leave you more vulnerable to cavities and gum disease. We usually recommend scheduling a checkup with our dentist at least twice a year to have your teeth cleaned thoroughly, but do you ever wonder if you should be cleaning your tongue?
Please know that brushing your tongue isn’t strictly necessary, even though your tongue can actually harbor bad bacteria. However, since your tongue is usually covered in saliva, it keeps itself fairly clean. The bacteria from your tongue can affect your back teeth, so cleaning your tongue with a tongue scraper or toothbrush might help you keep your smile cleaner, but since it takes about 24 hours for plaque to form, brushing twice a day will allow you to remove this plaque before it causes more serious issues.
Still, there are quite a few benefits to keeping your tongue clean. Cleaning your tongue could help improve the smell of your breath. Some people can’t brush their tongue with a toothbrush because it can make them gag. If you struggle with this issue, we recommend considering a tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers, as you could have guessed, are made to clean your tongue without triggering your gag reflex. To use a tongue scraper, you’ll just need to put the head of your tongue scraper against the back of your mouth and pull it forward.
If you’re interested in finding the perfect tongue scraper in Meridian, Idaho, please feel free to contact Legacy Smiles Family Dental at 208-888-3311 . Our dentist, Dr. John McMurray, and our dental team will gladly examine your teeth and address any of your concerns. We look forward to meeting with you soon!