The importance of twice daily toothbrushing is drilled into people from a young age, but tongue cleaning could be a key aspect missing from oral care for many people.
As described in The Guardian, ordinary toothbrushing cleans the teeth, interdental cleaning targets the spaces in-between, and doing both as recommended helps to reduce the risk of caries and gingivitis. Effective oral hygiene removes the biofilm – bacteria, viruses, and debris – that forms around the mouth.
This biofilm also collects on the tongue, comprising of different bacterial species than dental biofilm. The small bumps on the tongue, papillae, helps us to speak and chew. Biofilm settles between and around the papillae, acting as a reservoir for bacteria which may lead to issues like gum disease, as well as bad breath. A growing body of evidence suggests that this may lead to systemic health issues too – such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Whilst it can be challenging for some patients to add extra steps to their oral hygiene routines, it’s recommended to use a tongue scraper to clean the tongue, rather than a toothbrush. This is because toothbrush bristles can sometimes be too harsh on the tongue, whilst tongue scrapers – especially made of stainless steel or copper – are best.
The tongue should be cleaned twice daily as part of the normal dental routine, in the morning and before bed. This is also a good opportunity for people to check the health of their tongue, looking for any signs of mouth cancer – lumps and sores, for example – and get them checked out quickly.
>Since you’re here, why not read about supporting undiagnosed diabetes in dental patients?
Main image credit: Unsplash
