How Does Your Tongue Affect Your Oral Health?
Posted on: 20 January 2023
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Your oral hygiene routine shouldn't just cover your teeth and gums. You should also think about how your tongue affects your oral hygiene and health. You should actually clean your tongue regularly as well as your teeth. Why?
Your Tongue Can Give You Bad Breath
Even if you clean your teeth religiously twice a day, you might still suffer from bad breath. This odour is often caused by food with strong smells and, if so, should be a temporary problem.
However, people sometimes have unexplained bad breath. This problem tends to be persistent. Tooth brushing and using mouthwash keep the bad odours at bay for a while, but they always come back.
If your teeth and gums are in good shape, but you have persistent bad breath, then your tongue might be the root cause of the problem. Tongues can harbour bacteria.
The surface of your tongue isn't smooth. It has a moist tissue covering and lots of tiny bumps. Bacteria can easily lodge on moist tissues and around bumps. Regular eating and drinking won't wash this bacteria away.
As the bacteria gets older, it starts to smell. While you can mask this smell for a while with toothpaste or mouthwash, it will come back once the fresh smell dissipates. Your breath will then start to smell nasty again.
If you clean your tongue, say once a day, you remove any bacteria on its surface. Your breath will smell fresher and your bad breath problems could completely disappear.
Your Tongue Can Damage Your Teeth and Gums
If you don't clean bacteria off your tongue, then it stays in your mouth. This won't just give you bad breath. It is also a risk to your teeth and gums.
This bacteria can spread to your teeth and gums. It can cause problems such as enamel erosion, tooth decay and gum disease.
If you clean your tongue regularly, then you reduce this risk. You won't leave bacteria in your mouth where it can do some damage. Your teeth and gums will be healthier.
For more help, talk to your dentist. They can tell you how to clean your tongue. For example, some people simply brush their tongues after they brush their teeth; others use special tongue scrapers. Dentists can help you choose the right solution.
They can also investigate any current problems you have with bad breath or excess oral bacteria. If your problem has another source, they can treat it for you.