Is Brushing My Tongue Necessary?

The best dentist in Weston suggests that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss on a regular basis as these are all essential for maintaining proper oral hygiene. It helps prevent tooth decay and periodontitis, as well as halitosis. 

There has been some discussion in the past about whether brushing the tongue should be part of a regular oral hygiene routine to maintain the mouth, gums, and teeth healthy and free of halitosis. The American Dental Association puts an end to the dispute by recommending that people brush their tongues in addition to flossing and brushing their teeth. 

Why Should You Brush Your Tongue?

Breeding Habitat

The tongue is a bacteria breeding habitat. Its development causes bad breath. Hence, brushing your teeth but ignoring your tongue is only doing half the task of eradicating bacteria from your mouth. 

All of the food and drinks you ingest come in contact with your tongue. You may notice that your tongue is often coated with the colors of the food you’ve eaten. This only means that not all food particles go straight to your stomach.  

Because of this, bacteria tend to collect along your tongue and feed off leftover food particles. Although you can’t see them, there are bumps and tiny craters along the tongue’s surface, as well as your taste buds. 

What’s a Biofilm?

The food we eat, as well as the microorganisms left behind, sometimes get stuck in the taste buds, bumps, and fissures. That is why it is critical to remove bacteria from these tissues, and simply rinsing the mouth is insufficient. 

Biofilm is evidenced by the coating on the tongue. It is made up of microorganisms that contain bacteria. Using a brush to physically separate the bacteria from the biofilm involves some effort. Swishing with mouthwash removes only the surface bacteria, which are the biofilm’s outer cells. 

Have Your Dental Health Checked by the Best Dentist in Weston

Rinsing may temporarily mask foul breath, but removing deeper biofilm cells is required to eliminate bad breath for extended periods of time. Brushing the bacteria from the tongue is the only technique to completely remove them. If this does not do the job, contact us so we can immediately address your halitosis.