Is There Any Benefit to Brushing Your Tongue?

If you consume any amount of mass media, especially broadcast television, it is quite likely that you receive tons of conflicting messages about your oral health. Many commercials reference the importance of brushing your whole mouth, but then you might hear a news report contradicting that advice. And so, it is no wonder that you might be debating the necessity of brushing your tongue on a regular basis. If you are asking yourself about that very question, please read on, then contact one of our experienced general dentistry dentists located in Basking Ridge and Morristown, NJ today.

Is brushing your tongue even necessary?

Brushing your tongue can prevent potential problems of the oral cavity, such as the following:

  • Preventing tooth decay and periodontal disease
  • Improving your breath by removing the presence of bacteria on the tongue, which might otherwise lead to halitosis or bad breath
  • Allowing you to cleanse where mouthwashes and gargles can’t reach, because bacteria on your tongue stick to a film
  • Helping avoid the formation of a black hairy tongue by scrubbing the tiny bumps on your tongue called papillae, which would otherwise be easily stained due to dark-colored foods and beverages such as coffee, soda and wine
  • Helping you properly taste foods and drinks by removing bacteria on the tongue that would otherwise form a biofilm capable of blocking your taste buds and altering the way foods and drinks taste
  • Removing the bacteria that would lead to gum disease, i.e. red, irritated and swollen gums
  • Boosting your immune system

Why is brushing your tongue so important?

You may or may not realize it, but because it is the first point of contact for anything that enters your body, your tongue plays an important role in your overal immune system. By brushing your tongue and removing bacteria before they get the chance to spread and fester their way into other parts of your body, you boost your immune system. Never is this more crucial than when you are sick. Coughing and sneezing can build up extra bacteria in the oral cavity, which may negatively affect your immune system.

If nothing else, you will likely feel fresh all around after you brush your tongue. The tongue takes up a large amount of space in the mouth, so be sure to clean it.

How should you brush your tongue?

Position your toothbrush at the back of your tongue, then brush lightly forward and backward along your tongue. Spit out saliva that appears during your brushing and rinse out the toothbrush with warm water. You should try to do this as often as you brush your teeth.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to our team.

Contact The Dental Associates of Basking Ridge

Please contact us today to schedule an appointment if you have any dental issues.

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