Should you brush your tongue when you brush your teeth

Q: Should you clean your tongue or brush your teeth first?

Its most effective to clean your tongue after brushing but before rinsing so that there is still some toothpaste residue in your mouth. Then scrub your tongue with your brush before rinsing to reap the benefit of a full-mouth cleaning.

The tongue is one of the most neglected parts of the mouth when it comes to dental hygiene. But it’s easy to see why. Many of our Monrovia patients tell us that their dentist has told them since they were kids to brush their teeth at least twice a day. But rarely do patients get told to brush their tongue. In this blog post we want to look at 3 critical reasons why you should brush or scrape your tongue every day and not just before you go to the dentist. Monrovia patients that are suffering from tooth pain, crooked or discolored teeth, or even a missing tooth should call Dr. Q today at (626) 599-9819. Even if your tooth pain or sensitivity goes away, this can often be a sign that something is wrong with your teeth so get in touch with us as soon as possible.

Table of Contents Show

Why Patients Love Having Dr. Q As Their Dentist
Why Brushing Your Tongue Is Important
How To Clean Your Tongue
The Benefits of Brushing Your Tongue
1. Removes odor-causing buildup.
2. Reduces the risk of periodontal disease.
3. Enhances taste.
4. Lowers the risk of oral thrush.
Don’t walk around with bad breath. Get your tongue and teeth checked at your next dental appointment with WhiteWing Dental!
VISIT WHITEWING DENTAL TODAY
Is it good to brush your tongue when you brush your teeth?
Should you clean your tongue or brush your teeth first?
What happens if you don't brush your tongue?
How do you clean your tongue when you brush your teeth?

Your mouth is one of the best homes for bacteria. It’s dark, moist, warm, and there’s lots of leftover food for the bacteria to eat. In fact, there are billions of bacteria living in your mouth right now. While some of the bacteria is actually beneficial, there are also lots of bad bacteria.

For your teeth, the bacteria can wear down the protective enamel on the outside and cause gum disease and cavities that require filling by a dentist. Monrovia patients that brush their teeth twice a day remove that bacteria and save their teeth from getting damaged by the bacteria.

For your tongue, the bacteria can grow and multiply on the surface of your tongue because there are lots of crevices and cracks for them to hide in. Brushing and scraping your tongue removes these bacteria which can have 3 huge benefits for your oral health.

Better breath – The bad bacteria in your mouth are one of the primary sources of bad breath. The good bacteria in your mouth will do their best to fight off the foul-smelling bacteria, but they need health. By scraping or brushing your tongue, you will remove the layers of bacteria that cause stinky breath.
Taste – As the bacteria covers your taste buds, you may find that the flavors of your food are muted. By cleaning your tongue you can expose more of your taste buds and enjoy richer flavors in your food.
Dental health – Like we mentioned above, the bad bacteria in your mouth cause cavities and gum disease. By removing the bacteria on your tongue, you can improve the overall health of your mouth and potentially avoid a trip for cavity filling at the dentist. Monrovia patients can either scrape their tongue with a specially designed tongue-scraper or use their toothbrush.

Why Patients Love Having Dr. Q As Their Dentist

Monrovia patients have been coming to Dr. Q for over a decade because of how gentle and compassionate she is. Dr. Q understands that patients may feel a great deal of anxiety about coming to the dentist. That’s why she listens carefully to all of your concerns and makes sure that you know exactly what’s going on at every step of your visit. We also offer a variety of sedation dentistry options to make sure that you are comfortable throughout your visit.

If you’re hoping to work with Dr. Q, give us a call today at (626) 599-9819. From cosmetic procedures like Invisalign, dental implants, and teeth whitening, to fillings, and crowns, Dr. Q provides world-class dental treatment.

We’ve all heard about the importance of brushing your teeth for two minutes and flossing before you go to bed. However, did you know it’s just as imperative to brush your tongue?

Today, your family dentists at WhiteWing Dental in McAllen, TX, will discuss the importance of brushing your tongue and how to do so properly.

Why Brushing Your Tongue Is Important

You might ask yourself why you should brush your tongue, and the answer is quite simple: your tongue is covered in bacteria. When it comes to bacteria, your tongue is as much a target as your teeth. All the food and beverages that come into contact with your tongue allow for bacteria to settle between taste buds and other tongue structures. This bacteria will continue to grow and hide in these areas unless it is removed.

This build-up of bacteria is called microfilm, which is a group of microorganisms that stick together on your tongue. This bacteria can’t just be removed with mouthwash or water and it can lead to bad breath and tooth damage. Therefore, you should make sure to include brushing your tongue as part of your oral hygiene regimen.

How To Clean Your Tongue

To lessen the number of bacteria on the tongue, brush it every time you brush your teeth. Thankfully, cleaning your tongue doesn’t take much time, all you have to do is follow these three simple steps:

Brush back and forth
Brush side to side
Rinse your mouth with water

If you are not comfortable using your toothbrush to clean your tongue, you can also invest in a tongue scraper, which can be found at most drugstores.

The Benefits of Brushing Your Tongue

1. Removes odor-causing buildup.

Bad breath is embarrassing enough as is, but by brushing your tongue, you can remove the buildup that causes bad breath. By eliminating this bacteria you can avoid developing halitosis.

2. Reduces the risk of periodontal disease.

Bacteria on the tongue can contribute to gum disease and other serious illnesses that can spread throughout the body. If gum disease isn’t treated, it can lead to periodontal disease, which is when your gums become infected from deep pockets between your teeth and gums.

3. Enhances taste.

By getting rid of the plaque and bacteria on your tongue, you are removing that dull taste that develops because of it. This will let you taste your food so that you can enjoy it better.

4. Lowers the risk of oral thrush.

Oral thrush is an infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth. When bacteria in your mouth builds up and becomes excessive, white patches show up on your tongue. The cure is an antifungal medication, and brushing your tongue should keep it from coming back.

With this in mind, remember to brush your tongue regularly to keep your oral health in top shape. Brushing your tongue shouldn’t take long and has plenty of oral health benefits.

Don’t walk around with bad breath. Get your tongue and teeth checked at your next dental appointment with WhiteWing Dental!

A healthy mouth requires maintenance. Learn more about why brushing your tongue is beneficial for your oral health at your next appointment with WhiteWing Dental.

VISIT WHITEWING DENTAL TODAY

Is it good to brush your tongue when you brush your teeth?

These germs and bacteria can then lead to cavities, gum disease and bad breath. By concentrating on also brushing your tongue, you will ensure that you are maximizing the bacteria and germs that are being removed from your mouth while brushing.

Should you clean your tongue or brush your teeth first?

It's most effective to clean your tongue after brushing but before rinsing so that there is still some toothpaste residue in your mouth. Then scrub your tongue with your brush before rinsing to reap the benefit of a full-mouth cleaning.

What happens if you don't brush your tongue?

Fortunately, the bad breath will go away once you brush your tongue and mouth. Failing to brush your tongue can also affect your taste for things. Debris and bacteria can build up on the tongue's surface, leaving a biofilm over your taste buds. You won't be able to taste things fully.

How do you clean your tongue when you brush your teeth?

Position your toothbrush at the back of the tongue. Brush lightly forward and backward along your tongue. Spit out saliva that appears during the brushing and rinse out the toothbrush with warm water. Clean your tongue as often as you brush your teeth.