{"id":190,"date":"2020-03-19T16:16:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T16:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dolfielddental.com\/blog\/?p=190"},"modified":"2020-06-18T17:36:21","modified_gmt":"2020-06-18T17:36:21","slug":"how-and-why-you-should-clean-your-tongue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dolfielddental.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/19\/how-and-why-you-should-clean-your-tongue\/","title":{"rendered":"How and Why You Should Clean Your Tongue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"close<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re diligent about brushing and\nflossing<\/a> every single day, sometimes even several times a day. Yet, on your\nlast date, your partner turned away from you when you tried to kiss them\nbecause your breath was atrocious. You didn\u2019t eat anything foul-smelling, so\nwhy did this happen? According to a dentist, if you don\u2019t clean your tongue,\nyou can still be susceptible to bad breath despite daily brushing and flossing.\nThat\u2019s why we\u2019ve written this guide on how and why you need to clean your\ntongue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Do You Need to Clean Your Tongue?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your tongue is covered in tiny bumps called papillae. Food\nparticles can get trapped within these bumps and attract bacteria, which can\nbuild up on your tongue just as easily as it can on your teeth and gums. When this\noccurs, it can result in serious bad breath, even if you brush and floss diligently.\nBacteria accumulation may also result in a (usually white) discoloration of the\ntongue. Additionally, bacteria from the tongue can redeposit onto the teeth and\ngums, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Properly Clean Your Tongue?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two tools you can use to clean your tongue: your\ntoothbrush or a tongue scraper, which you can find for cheap in the dental section\nof most drugstores. It\u2019s most effective to clean your tongue after brushing but\nbefore rinsing so that there is still some toothpaste residue in your mouth. Then\nscrub your tongue with your brush before rinsing to reap the benefit of a\nfull-mouth cleaning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a more direct clean, you can run a tongue scraper from\nthe back of your tongue to the front. Rinse the scraper off after every use\nuntil your whole tongue is scrubbed clean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What If It Makes Me Gag?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For many people, placing a toothbrush or tongue scraper near\nthe back of the tongue can trigger the gag reflex. In order to stop this, it\nmay help to begin by placing the scraper or brush in the middle of the tongue\nthe first few times you clean it. Then, as you become more comfortable with the\npractice, you can gradually put it farther and farther back in the mouth until\nyou can clean your entire tongue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By adding tongue cleaning to your oral hygiene routine, you\ncan not only improve your breath, but your oral health in general too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr.\nJacob Milner<\/a> is a dentist in Ownings Mills, MD. He underwent a pediatric practice\nresidency at Kernan Hospital at the University of Maryland and worked with\ngeriatric patients at Levindale Hospital. These experiences taught him that\noral hygiene is important at any age, and that includes cleaning your tongue. To\nlearn more, visit Dr.\nMilner\u2019s website.<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re diligent about brushing and flossing every single day, sometimes even several times a day. Yet, on your last date, your partner turned away from you when you tried to kiss them because your breath was atrocious. You didn\u2019t eat anything foul-smelling, so why did this happen? According to a dentist, if you don\u2019t clean […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nDentist | How and Why You Should Clean Your Tongue | Dr. Jacob Milner<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you clean your tongue? If not, you could be needlessly suffering from bad breath. 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