Should You Brush Your Tongue?

Many people know the basics of oral care – brushing at least twice a day, flossing often, and attending dental check-ups once every six months. However, many people wonder – should you brush your tongue as well as your teeth? The answer is definitely yes. There are many reasons why you should brush your tongue alongside your teeth as part of your everyday oral care routine. Brushing your tongue is one of the most important parts of having good dental health, as well as improving your breath and the overall cleanliness of your mouth. 

Here is everything you need to know about whether or not you should brush your tongue. 

Why Should You Brush Your Tongue?

There are many reasons why you should brush your tongue as well as your teeth. Bacteria lives in every part of your mouth, not just your teeth. This includes your tongue. Bacteria sticks to your tongue more easily and could cause harm to your teeth. You should brush your tongue in to clean your tongue and remove this bacteria. 

Germs and bacteria stick to your taste buds, otherwise known as papillae. If you don’t brush your tongue, this bacteria could grow, causing cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. You should brush your tongue regularly in order to remove this bacteria, and make your mouth a lot more hygienic. 

Rinsing your mouth after you brush is not enough to remove this bacteria from your tongue, which is why you should brush your tongue. Mouthwash is not powerful enough to remove the biofilm of bacteria from your tongue, so you should brush your tongue a lot more if you don’t already do so. 

How Often Should You Brush Your Tongue?

You should brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth, so at least twice a day. Bacteria gathers in your mouth every time you eat or drink during the day, so you need to be on top of removing bacteria in order to prevent cavities, gum disease and bad breath. 

The bacteria on your tongue also affects your gums and mouth. Even if you have porcelain veneers, you should brush your tongue to prevent having other oral health conditions. Ensuring that your tongue is clean is a vital part of good oral care, and even if you have veneers or full implants, you should brush your tongue just like you still brush your teeth. 

How Should You Brush Your Tongue?

You should brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth. Many people who aren’t in the habit of taking care of their teeth often wonder – how should you brush your tongue? However, there are a few tips you can do in order to brush your teeth correctly. 

-You should brush your tongue with a soft bristled brush

-Brush away from your gum line

-You should brush your tongue gently, as well as all visible parts of your teeth

-Make sure you brush your tongue back and forth and side to side, so you can clean the bacteria from every part of your tongue

-Avoid using the same brush which you use to brush your teeth, so that the bristles don’t harbour bacteria after use. You should instead consider using a dedicated tongue brush instead.

Should You Brush Your Tongue With A Tongue Scraper? 

Many people believe that you should brush your tongue with a tongue scraper to adequately clean your tongue. Sometimes, tongue scrapers can cause your tongue to bleed, which isn’t good for your oral health. If you’re thinking of using a tongue scraper, you should brush your tongue with it gently so you don’t make your tongue bleed. 

Ideally, you should brush your tongue with just a toothbrush. A toothbrush is designed to remove bacteria from your teeth, and as long as you adequately brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth, you should be fine. 

So, Should You Brush Your Tongue?

Yes – definitely. You should brush your tongue in order to improve your dental health and prevent ailments such as cavities, gum disease and halitosis. Brushing your tongue is important when it comes to preventative dentistry, as it can stop significant dental problems developing before they get worse. 

If you want good oral health, you should brush your tongue as often as you brush your teeth. As well as taking good care of your teeth, you should be visiting your dentist. At Beyond Dental, we have a fantastic dental subscription plan which gives you twice-yearly dental checkups and dental hygiene appointments for just £25 a month, which also includes a full oral health check where we also check your tongue. Furthermore, you get 10% off the cost of your dental treatments and FREE teeth whitening, so you can look after your teeth and be confident in your smile too!