Do you know though you are brushing twice a day, your mouth is still not cleansed if you leave out cleaning your tongue?
Tongue is one of the most important parts of our mouth. It helps us taste, talk and diagnose.
Yet is one of the most neglected parts of oral cavity where bacteria have lot of space to occupy.
Observing your tongue can even give you an idea of underlying health conditions.
What your tongue says about your health?
If it has white spots, it can indicate:
Leukoplakia: A non- scrapable white patch and a precancerous condition seen in smokers. It can also be caused due to constant irritation of the tongue. When you observe this kind of lesion, contact your dentist immediately.
Oral thrush: caused due to overgrowth of candida fungus. It is also an indication of weak immune system as it is seen in infants, elderly and diabetic patients. It appears like a cottage cheese inside the mouth and tongue.
Lichen planus: a network of raised white lines known as whickham’s striae. It is also an auto immune disorder which resolves on its own.
A red colored tongue could be a sign of:
Vitamin deficiency: vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency turns pink color of tongue to red. Tongue becomes swollen and painful to touch making it hard to enjoy spicy food.
Geographic tongue: it is a harmless condition which makes you unique. It is as if your tongue has road maps drawn on it which shift in time. If you see haphazard white or red lines on your tongue, don’t panic as it occurs due to genetics.
Scarlet fever: red, painful tongue which can be treated by antibiotics.
If you don’t clean your tongue and maintain a good oral hygiene, then your tongue can even turn black in color with hairy texture. Your taste buds grow as your hair, when overgrowth occurs, bacteria accumulates in them giving them a black color and bad odor. It isn’t a pretty sight to see and also unpleasant to smell. Make cleaning your tongue mandatory if you have this condition and also visit a dentist.
Smoking, ulcers and trauma to the tongue can make it bumpy and painful.
Canker sores: also known as mouth ulcers. Mainly develops due to stress. It can be single or in groups. They go away within two weeks.
Oral cancer: if ulcers don’t go away within two weeks, contact your dentist, as soon as possible. It could be an indication of oral cancer. Oral cancers start as ulcers and are painless in the beginning. Don’t neglect the ulcers if they persist. Because diagnosing in time can save your life.
Everyone should check their tongue while brushing and clean it as they clean their teeth. Any sore or trauma which doesn’t disappear in two weeks should be attended by a medical professional.
How do you clean your tongue?
Only squishing water in your mouth is not enough. Your tongue is uneven making it easier for bacteria to hide. To get rid of them you need to scrape your tongue with brush or a tongue cleaner. These bacteria cause bad breath and tooth decay.
Don’t think if your tongue is pink or if you don’t have bad breath then you have a clean tongue.
The bacteria on tongue are detected within hours a baby is born.
You need to clean it properly using a tongue cleaner whether or not you suffer from halitosis.
Use a tongue cleaner or a brush to clean your tongue.
Brush your tongue as you brush your teeth: back and forth and side to side then rinse with water.
In most cases, cleaning your tongue gives you fresh breath. If it doesn’t, the bad breath can be caused due to internal problems like sinus, diabetes and digestive problems.
What if you gag while you clean your tongue?
Start slow: stick out your tongue as much as you can and clean the front surfaces of your area till you get used to the feeling. Then move backwards as you clean. Use a tongue cleaner rather than a tooth brush to clean your tongue.
Soft tooth brush: use a soft tooth brush and moisten it before you put it on your tongue.
Taste the paste: use a paste which tastes good to you, so that you can reduce the gag reflex.
Do it on empty stomach.
Don’t think about it: sometimes it’s all in the mind. We decide that we are going to gag if I clean the tongue. Change your thinking and think of it as a pleasant experience.
Do it anyway: you will feel the gag, first few times. When it becomes a normal routine then your brain will desensitize you to the feeling.
Dental floss: use dental floss to clean your tongue rather than tooth brush or cleaner. It is thin and smaller in size. Though less effective than other tongue cleaning methods, it is a good alternative.
Make observing and cleaning your tongue a regular habit which will help you in the long run. After taking care of your tongue along with your teeth, if you find any lingering issues, then contact our dentists at Ankura Dental hospital who will resolve all your issues with their expertise.
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Ankura Dental – Best Dental Clinic in Hyderabad
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