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.
After brushing your teeth, rinse your brush off and spend 15-30 seconds brushing the entire surface area of your tongue. Then rinse again. You can also lightly brush the roof of your mouth and gums if you'd like.
Just like you brush your teeth, use a small amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush. Then, move front and back over your tongue.
In order to rid yourself of the bacteria residing below the tongues surface, you can use an oxygenating toothpaste. There are many other conditions which may also be the cause of your white tongue. These include: Dehydration.
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.
For the most part, your tongue can look white for benign reasons (maybe you're dehydrated or skipped a few brushings), but thicker white patches can also be a sign of infection or, in rare cases, mouth or oral cancer.
Not brushing your tongue causes overgrown bacteria, giving off a foul smell or stink. Besides causing great embarrassment, lousy breath can increase your risk of digestive issues such as reflux and GERD. Fortunately, the bad breath will go away once you brush your tongue and mouth.
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.
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.
Iron deficiency anemia or pernicious anemia – A pale (almost white), smooth tongue can be caused by a deficiency in iron or vitamin B12.
Coated/hairy tongue (also known as “coated tongue”) is a benign condition of the top (or dorsum) of the tongue caused by lengthening of the “hairs” or “papillae” on the tongue that is made up of a material called keratin.
If you're currently feeling anxious and overwhelmed by stress, you might experience these oral conditions: Canker sores. Dry mouth. Lichen planus (lacy white lines, red areas or mouth ulcers on the cheek, gums or tongue)
Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water allows, thanks to its antibacterial action, to get rid of the toxins that proliferate. Used once or twice a day as a mouthwash, salt water helps to fight against inflammation, gum problems and white tongue because it regulates the balance of the oral flora.
Although the appearance of white tongue may be alarming, the condition is usually harmless and temporary. However, white tongue can be an indication of some serious conditions, ranging from infection to a precancerous condition.
Best alcohol-free mouthwashes for a clean tongue
“We commonly suggest Crest Pro Health or Listerine Total Care Zero,” he says. “These rinses help to control the bacteria from areas one cannot mechanically clean and in your mouth overall.
Fluoride toothpaste can clean your tongue just as effectively as cleaning your teeth.
Colgate Max Fresh Whitening Toothpaste with Breath Strips
Made with fluoride and packed with hundreds of mini breath strips, this toothpaste whitens and removes stains, and also fights cavities and bad breath-causing bacteria on teeth, tongue, cheeks, and gums.
Lemon juice – Mix the juice of half a lemon into eight ounces of water and either drink or rinse with the mixture. Apple cider vinegar – The antifungal properties of this vinegar can help treat oral thrush. Add one teaspoon of it to a cup of water and swish for one minute then spit.