2023-07-30 09:11:00
Written by Nahir Abdel Nabi, Sunday, July 30, 2023 12:11 PM
It is always recommended to brush and clean the teeth with brush, paste, and medical floss, but what also harms oral health is leaving the bacteria on the surface of the tongue, as dentists believe that cleaning the tongue is very important, whether it is to fight bad breath or for the safety of the teeth.
And according to healthline, the tongue is a target for bacteria just like the teeth, although it is not at risk of cavities itself.
“Bacteria accumulate a lot in areas of the tongue, specifically between the taste buds and other areas of the tongue,” says Dr. John Kling.
And he adds that the surface of the tongue is not smooth, but contains cracks and elevations all over it. Germs accumulate in those areas unless they are removed from them.
It’s not just harmless saliva, Kling explains, it’s a biofilm or a group of microorganisms invisible to the naked eye that stick together on the surface of the tongue and, unfortunately, getting rid of them isn’t quite so simple. That is, just by drinking water or using mouthwash.
“It’s difficult to kill the bacteria on the inner biofilm, for example using mouthwash only kills the bacteria on the outer cells of the biofilm, meaning the non-surface cells survive,” says Dr. Kling.
These bacteria can cause bad breath or damage teeth. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the bacteria on the tongue with good brushing or cleaning.
Dr. Kling believes that the tongue should be brushed every time you brush your teeth. It is very simple, as we follow the following:
– Brushing forward and backward.
Brushing from one side of the tongue to the other.
– Rinse the mouth with water.
– One should be careful not to brush too much; So that the skin of the tongue does not get hurt.
Some people prefer to use a tongue scraper, which is available at most pharmacies.
The American Dental Association notes that there is no evidence for the effectiveness of tongue scrapers in preventing bad breath.
Cleaning the tongue usually eliminates bad breath, but if the problem persists, a dentist should be consulted.
The problem may be more than tongue hygiene. There are many causes for bad breath, it may be tooth decay, infections in the throat, mouth, and sinuses, or even cancer and diabetes.
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