Do you really need to clean your tongue using your toothbrush and toothpaste? You certainly do. Fluoride toothpaste can clean your tongue just as effectively as cleaning your teeth.
If you do not specifically concentrate on brushing your tongue, bacteria and germs will shelter in your papillae and remain in your mouth. These germs and bacteria can then lead to cavities, gum disease and bad breath.
Tooth Brush:
When cleaning your tongue with a toothbrush, you first put a small amount of toothpaste on and then start brushing from the back of your mouth to the front. Then wash your mouth out with water!
There are two tools you can use to clean your tongue: your toothbrush or a tongue scraper, which you can find for cheap in the dental section of most drugstores. It's most effective to clean your tongue after brushing but before rinsing so that there is still some toothpaste residue in your mouth.
You brush and floss twice a day, but you could be doing your mouth a disservice if you aren't also attacking the bacteria living on your tongue. Whether it's to fight bad breath or just for good dental health, cleaning your tongue is important, dentists say.
White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.
As with a tongue scraper, you should only brush as far back as the end of your tongue groove. Do not brush your tonsils on either side of your tongue.
Brushing your tongue or using a tongue scraper to remove the white coating. If you don't have a tongue scraper, you can turn over a teaspoon. Using a straw when having cold drinks. Avoiding substances that can irritate your tongue like alcohol mouthwashes that contain alcohol and cigarettes.
Brown tongue causes include smoking, drinking a lot of coffee or tea, and poor oral hygiene. If not treated, the nodules can get larger than usual and give the tongue a hairy appearance. This issue is referred to as Black Hairy Tongue.
You may be able to remove the white coating from your tongue by gently brushing it with a soft toothbrush. Or softly run a tongue scraper across your tongue. Drinking lots of water can also help flush bacteria and debris out of your mouth.
A healthy tongue should be pink in color with small nodules called papillae over the surface. Certain medical disorders may cause your tongue to change in appearance, and a color-changing tongue could be your first indication of a severe underlying issue.
A healthy tongue should be pink, pain-free, and covered in tiny projections called papillae. Changes in its color, texture, or sensations could indicate issues with your oral health along with other conditions within your body.
Always be careful when brushing or scraping your tongue. This is a sensitive organ and using the wrong tool can damage your tongue and taste buds. Some toothbrushes come with a backside just for this purpose, but for some the toothbrush is too large to reach the back of the tongue and may activate a gag-reflex.
Poor oral hygiene: Food, dead cells, bacteria, and other debris don't get cleaned thoroughly or often enough. Dehydration: It is important to consume plenty of water and other healthy liquids to stimulate good bacteria in your mouth. A dehydrated tongue can appear cracked, dry, and white.
Most commonly this occurs when your papillae become enlarged and bacteria in your mouth produce colored pigments. Also, the longer-than-normal papillae can easily trap cells that have shed, which become stained by tobacco, food or other substances. Mouth breathing or dry mouth may also be linked to yellow tongue.
Bacterial overgrowth on the tongue most commonly causes it. Your tongue may look dark yellow, brown, or black. Also, the papillae may multiply, giving off the “hairy” appearance.
While a white tongue often indicates thrush, it can be a sign of another condition. Several oral conditions have similar symptoms to thrush, causing them to sometimes be mistaken for thrush.
Drink plenty of water: Enough water helps keeping your tongue clean and gets rid of extra food particles. Eat crunchy fruits that cleanse the tongue naturally: Apples and guava are good examples of this. Eat raw vegetables: Raw vegetables, such as spinach, tomatoes, lettuce and peppers.
Your Mouth is a Breeding Ground for Bacteria
Not all the bacteria that is found in the mouth is bad. Some of it is good and helps with your overall health, but a lot of it can be harmful. Brushing your tongue on a daily basis allows you to remove the harmful bacteria from your mouth before it can cause any problems.
Leukoplakia appears as thick, white patches on the inside surfaces of your mouth. It has a number of possible causes, including repeated injury or irritation. It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer.
Oral thrush can cause a white or yellow film to form on the tongue and can cause discomfort when eating and drinking. Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth, which can be a result of poor oral hygiene, a weakened immune system, or antibiotics.
The symptoms of tongue cancer might include: a red or white patch on the tongue that won't go away. a sore throat that doesn't go away. a sore spot (ulcer) or lump on the tongue that doesn't go away.