Scrape That Tongue

You brush. You floss. That’s all well and good, but you shouldn’t forget that the bacteria in your mouth is clinging to more than just your teeth. This is why our Lynnwood dental clinic advises that you remember to clean your tongue as a regular part of your oral hygiene routine.

Indeed, your tongue has as much potential to harbor the bacteria that cause decay and bad breath as your teeth do. You can work to clean this bacteria away simply by gently brushing at your tongue with your toothbrush.

Tongue Scraper

Most people find the brush a little uncomfortable on the tongue, particularly when trying to reach back towards the throat, so it may be worthwhile to get yourself a proper tongue scraper. Such scrapers are available in many dental care aisles, and are designed to clean your tongue with the even pressure that you can’t get with a brush.

A good antibacterial mouthwash can help to kill off bacteria on your tongue as well, but a tongue scraping is the only way to clear off the detritus and dead cells that are also gathering on your tongue surface.