How To Clean Your Tongue

While most of us give our tongues a quick brush just before rinsing out mouths out, that’s often the most attention it gets when it comes to cleaning.

We’ve got a guide on 2 great ways to clean your tongue – here we go!

H1: How To Clean A Tongue – Properly

Studies have found that regularly cleaning your tongue can help to reduce bacteria that leads to bad breath, a coated tongue, and plaque buildup, to name just a few.

There are two main ways to do it.

Tongue Scrapers

While some research out there suggests that tongue scrapers are the most effective tools, you don’t need one to clean your tongue properly.

However, if you do want to make use of a tongue scraper, here’s a quick how-to:

How To Clean A Tongue With A Tongue Scraper

1. Get yourself a tongue scraper. Metal or plastic is great – make sure that there aren’t any sharp edges to avoid cutting your tongue.
2. Stick out your tongue as far as you can.
3. Place the tongue scraper as far back as you can on your tongue.
4. Slowly pull the tongue scraper out of your mouth while applying pressure on your tongue. 
5. Rinse the tongue scraper as well as your mouth.
6. Repeat steps 2 – 5 a few more times.
7. Once you’re done, clean the tongue scraper thoroughly and store it until you’re ready to use it again.

We recommend using it twice a day. If you find yourself gagging when you use it, consider placing it closer to your mouth, and try using it before breakfast to ensure you don’t throw up.

Toothbrushes

Okay, so it might not be as effective as the tool designed specifically to scrape your tongue.

But, it’s definitely more convenient – especially if you’re already brushing your teeth twice a day.

How To Clean A Tongue With A Toothbrush

1. Find yourself a soft-bristle toothbrush.
2. Stick your tongue out as far as you can.
3. Position the brush towards the back of your tongue.
4. Begin to brush back and forth lightly.
5. Rinse your mouth and the brush.

If your tongue is discoloured, you could look at mixing 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 5 parts water and brushing with the mixture once a day. Make sure you rinse thoroughly afterwards.

Mouth Rinses

Okay, so technically there are 2 and a half ways to do it. But we say “half” because mouth rinses alone won’t really help you much. 

Look at using therapeutic mouthwashes with active ingredients to help take care of bacteria in your mouth, and partner it with a healthy brushing routine to make sure you’re making the most of your mouth! 

What Are The Benefits Of Cleaning My Tongue?

Cleaning your tongue is good for a ton of reasons, including:

Reducing Sulfur Compounds

The thing that causes bad breath. Brushing reduces it by about 45%, while scraping reduces it by around 75%.

Reducing Bacteria On Your Tongue

While cleaning your tongue reduces the bacterial count significantly, it’s only really effective if you do it daily.

Contributing To A Fresher Feeling Mouth

While the American Dental Association has said there’s no link between cleaning your tongue and having fresher breath, there’s no denying that it leaves you with a fresher feeling mouth.

Reducing Plaque

A 2013 study found that children who cleaned their tongues regularly had significantly less plaque than those who didn’t.

Changing Your Sense Of Taste

Cleaning your tongue has been linked to altering perceptions of taste, especially sucrose and citric acids.

Conclusion

While many people don’t think about it, tongue cleaning is something you shouldn’t overlook. It’s not just good for your oral health – it’ll change the way you taste things, too! Contact My New Smile today should you have any questions.

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