{"id":429,"date":"2018-09-05T21:44:28","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T21:44:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.longfamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=429"},"modified":"2025-02-20T18:36:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T18:36:45","slug":"dentist-explains-why-cleaning-tongue-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.longfamilydental.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/05\/dentist-explains-why-cleaning-tongue-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Dentist Explains Why Cleaning the Tongue is So Important"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>The tongue is one of the most essential tools in our toolbox when it comes to eating, digesting, tasting, chewing and speaking effectively throughout the day. While this intricate group of muscles is responsible for so much, it\u2019s quite surprising how many people don\u2019t bother to keep it as clean as they should.<\/p>\n

So why is cleaning your tongue so important? What happens if we don\u2019t clean it enough? What is the best way to keep it clean and prevent issues like chronic bad breath on a daily basis? Keep reading to learn all that and more from a dentist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Why Cleaning Your Tongue Matters<\/h2>\n

Oral bacteria builds up everywhere in the mouth, not just on the teeth and gums. While bacteria loves to get into the many cracks and crevices of teeth, it\u2019s not the only area with nooks and crannies for bacteria to get into. The tongue is covered in papillae, which are tiny bumps that aid the mouth in chewing and swallowing. However, they also allow bacteria, dead skin cells and food debris to easily get caught on top of the tongue.<\/p>\n

Throughout the day, mucous covers the tongue, trapping it on its surface and allowing it to fester. This results in chronic bad breath, which can be embarrassing to learn that you have when talking to friends, family or colleagues. However, these bacteria deposits can also redistribute to the teeth and gums, increasing the risk of plaque and tartar buildup.<\/p>\n

The Best Way to Clean Your Tongue<\/h2>\n

The best way to keep your tongue clean is to dedicate an additional 10 to 15 seconds of your oral care routine exclusively to your tongue\u2019s surface. While there are oral devices specifically designed to scrape bacteria and mucous from the tongue, using a toothbrush is just as effective. After cleaning your teeth and gums, spit out residual toothpaste and use the remaining paste in your mouth and on your toothbrush to clean the tongue, cheeks and roof of your mouth, starting from the back. Make sure to pull as much as you can from the back to the front, followed by spitting it out to remove both the bacteria and mucous layer on top.<\/p>\n

What to Do If Cleaning Your Tongue is Difficult<\/h2>\n

Many people complain about triggering their gag reflex while cleaning their tongue, but there is a way to reduce this sensation.<\/p>\n