Why (and How) to Brush Your Tongue: A Step-by-Step Guide for Better Oral Health

Do you want a clean mouth? You need to brush your tongue! Your tongue can get dirty. It needs cleaning too. This will help you have fresh breath all day!

Why Brush Your Tongue?

Your tongue has tiny bumps. These bumps can trap bad things:

1. Bacteria – tiny germs that can make your breath smell bad
2. Food bits – they stay on your tongue after you eat
3. Dead cells – old cells that need to be cleaned away

Let’s see why tongue brushing is so good for you:

Kills Bad Breath

Bad breath often comes from your tongue! About 80% of bad breath cases start right there. When you brush your tongue, you take away the stinky stuff.

Makes Food Taste Better

A clean tongue can taste food better! When your tongue is dirty, food doesn’t taste as good.

Stops Tooth Problems

The bacteria on your tongue can move to your teeth. This can cause cavities and make your gums sick. The American Dental Association says a clean tongue helps keep your whole mouth healthy.

Looks Better

A healthy tongue should be pink. A white or coated tongue doesn’t look good and might mean you need to clean it better.

How to Brush Your Tongue the Right Way

Cleaning your tongue is easy! Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Pick Your Tool

You can use:

• A soft toothbrush – the one you use for your teeth
• A tongue scraper – a special tool that works even better

Tongue scrapers take away 75% more bad breath germs than toothbrushes.

Step 2: The Right Way to Clean

1. Stick out your tongue
2. Put your brush or scraper at the back of your tongue
3. Gently pull forward
4. Rinse your tool after each pull
5. Do this 3-4 times
6. Rinse your mouth with water when done

If you feel like you might gag, try to breathe out while you clean.

Step 3: When to Clean

Clean your tongue at these times:

• In the morning – gets rid of night germs
• After you brush your teeth – makes your cleaning complete
• Before bed – for fresher morning breath

You only need to do it once a day, but twice is even better!

Big Mistakes People Make

Don’t make these tongue cleaning mistakes:

Pushing Too Hard

Your tongue is soft! Don’t scrub hard. Gentle strokes are best.

Not Cleaning the Back

The back of your tongue has the most bacteria. Don’t skip it!

Using Bad Products

Don’t use harsh mouthwash right after cleaning your tongue. It can dry out your mouth.

Tools for Tongue Cleaning

Here are some good tools to try:

The American Dental Association says any of these tools work, but tongue scrapers are best.

Questions People Ask

Special Tips for Fresh Breath

Want the freshest breath? Try these tips:

1. Use a tongue cleaner every day
2. Drink lots of water
3. Chew sugar-free gum
4. Visit your dentist for check-ups
5. Use antimicrobial mouthwash after tongue cleaning

How Your Tongue Affects Your Whole Mouth

Your tongue is part of your oral microbiome – all the tiny living things in your mouth. When your tongue is dirty, your whole mouth suffers.

Tongue bacteria can cause:

• Bad breath
• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Oral thrush
• Problems with your dental work

Who Should Be Extra Careful About Tongue Cleaning

Some people need to be extra good about cleaning their tongues:

• Smokers – smoking makes your tongue dirty
• People with dry mouth – less saliva means more bacteria
• People who eat lots of sugar – feeds bad bacteria
• People with braces – harder to keep clean
• People who don’t drink enough water

The Science of Tongue Cleaning

Tongue cleaning is not new! People have done it for thousands of years. In Ayurveda (old Indian medicine), they use copper tongue scrapers because copper kills germs.

Modern science shows that tongue bacteria make volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). These make your breath smell bad. Tongue cleaning removes these bacteria and the VSCs.

How the Tongue Gets Dirty

Your tongue gets dirty from:

1. Food you eat
2. Dead cells that stick to it
3. Bacteria that grow on it
4. Not enough water
5. Smoking
6. Breathing through your mouth

The tiny bumps (called papillae) on your tongue trap all these things. That’s why you need to clean it!

Make a Tongue Cleaning Habit

Follow these steps to make tongue cleaning a habit:

1. Put your tongue cleaner next to your toothbrush
2. Do it at the same time every day
3. Look at your tongue in the mirror to see if it’s pink
4. Reward yourself with fresh breath

Only about 32% of adults clean their tongues daily. Be one of them!

When to See a Dentist

Call your dentist if:

• Your tongue stays white after cleaning
• Your tongue hurts
• You have bumps or spots on your tongue
• You have bad breath even after cleaning

These could be signs of health problems that need help.

Tongue Cleaning for Fresh Breath All Day

Want fresh breath all day? Try these tips:

1. Clean your tongue in the morning
2. Drink water all day
3. Rinse after meals
4. Avoid smelly foods (like garlic)
5. Clean your tongue at night

People who clean their tongues have fresh breath for longer!

Best Products for Tongue Cleaning

Here are some good tongue cleaning products:

• GUM Dual Action Tongue Cleaner
• Dr. Tung’s Tongue Cleaner (stainless steel)
• Orabrush Tongue Cleaner
• TheraBreath Oxygenating Tongue Gel
• BreathRx Tongue Spray

These work better than just using a toothbrush.

Teach Kids to Clean Their Tongues

Kids should learn to clean their tongues too! Make it fun:

1. Let them pick a tongue cleaner in their favorite color
2. Make funny faces in the mirror
3. Say “ahhh” really big
4. Give stickers for clean tongues
5. Be a good example by cleaning your own tongue

Final Thoughts

Brushing your tongue takes just 10 seconds but makes a big difference in your mouth health and breath. Add it to your daily routine and see how much better your mouth feels!

Remember: Brush your teeth, floss, AND clean your tongue for the best oral health!