Most people focus their dental care efforts on their gums and teeth. However, the tongue is a crucial element in your mouth and also warrants daily care. You can resolve many oral health issues, and prevent them in the first place, by brushing your tongue regularly. Below, review everything you need to get started.

How to Clean Your Tongue

Try to brush your tongue at least twice a day, preferably after eating. This ensures you remove lodged food particles and bacteria before they have time to sit around and create problems. Gently use your toothbrush to scrub buildup away, and then rinse with water or a mouthwash to flush remaining food particles and bacteria.

As an alternative, invest in a tongue scraper. This tool features a wide, horizontal scraping head attached to a handle. Place the head as far back on your tongue as possible, and then draw it forward. Then, rinse and repeat to remove the bulk of buildup.

Why It’s Important to Brush Your Tongue

Your tongue hosts countless bacteria and food particles that may remain after you’ve cleaned your teeth. Cleaning your tongue regularly will reduce bad breath and ensure the bacteria don’t move to your teeth and begin eroding enamel.

Failing to brush your tongue can also lead to complications, such as white tongue. This condition occurs when finger-like growths develop on the tongue. Oral thrush is another problem where yeast builds up on the tongue, resulting in discoloration.

Even when taking care of your oral health at home, you’ll need to seek professional help twice a year. If you’re overdue for a cleaning, head to Chinook Family Dentistry in Anchorage, AK. This practice is led by Drs. Symonds and Lathrop and backed by 35 years of experience. They offer a variety of solutions, ranging from general care to root canal therapy and periodontal disease treatment. Call (907) 272-8422 to schedule an exam today, and visit them online to learn more about their dental care services.