Tongue Care

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    tongue health

    Tongue Care

    It’s Important to include the tongue in our daily dental hygiene routine to achieve oral wellness.

    Not only does it contain over 10,000 taste buds, but It also plays an essential role in our digestive system. It helps us to speak, eat, taste, and chew.

    Tongue health can directly affect our oral and overall health as well. 

    Why it’s essential to take care of your tongue?

    The surface of your tongue harbors a lot of bacteria that can later be transferred to your teeth and gum, causing dental cavities and other problems.

    These bacteria can impact our ability to taste and even can alter our tongue appearance.

    Not cleaning your tongue regularly can also lead to having bad breath. Taking care of it is vital to keep your breath fresh.

    How to clean your tongue:

    You can maintain tongue health by adding extra preventative maintenance to your oral health routine. This can be done in two simple ways, brushing and scraping:

    1. Brushing:  Use a toothbrush to brush your tongue gently. It will help to remove bacteria and freshen your breath all at the same time.
    2. Scraping: Scraping is as effective as brushing. It will help you to keep your tongue clean and fresh. Tongue scrapers are commonly used by people that have a severe gag reflex.

    Tips for maintaining a clean tongue: 

    • Stay hydrated: Water will keep your mouth fresh and moist, which will help get rid of bacteria and food remnants on your tongue.
    • Mouthwash: Rinsing your mouth with mouthwashes will help to clean the surface of your tongue and also will help kill any residual bacteria.
    • Avoid smoking: Smoking is harmful to both your teeth and your tongue. It can cause staining, taste alteration, and, most dangerously, tongue cancer.

    If you have questions about cleaning or caring for your tongue, please contact us at 828.631.3283 or request an appointment online.

    David S. McGuire, DDS

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