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\u201cBRUSH YOUR TEETH<\/b> for two full minutes twice a day and floss your teeth once a day.\u201d You\u2019ve probably lost count of how many times you\u2019ve heard that, but how often have you heard that you should be cleaning your tongue every day too?<\/p>\nThe Difference A Clean Tongue Makes<\/h3>\n
More bacteria likes to live on our tongues than just about anywhere else on our bodies. That\u2019s because all those tiny crevices in the tongue\u2019s surface are prime real estate for all kinds of pathogens<\/strong>. If we don\u2019t actively keep our tongues clean, the harmful bacteria will stay put and multiply, causing bad breath and contributing to tooth decay on the inner surfaces of our teeth.<\/p>\n Another reason to regularly get rid of all that tongue bacteria is that it can dramatically improve your sense of taste<\/strong>. When the tongue is covered in bacteria, the tastebuds have a hard time doing their job, but with the bacteria gone, they\u2019re free to absorb all those delicious flavors at their full capacity. Yum!<\/p>\n Chemical digestion begins in our mouths<\/strong>, and a clean tongue makes this process more effective too. So, if you want to enjoy your favorite foods as much as possible, keep your breath clean and fresh, and improve your digestive health, clean your tongue!<\/p>\n Keeping your tongue clean takes more than swishing mouthwash or rinsing with water. The bacteria hiding in all those tiny grooves is very stubborn, and washing with liquid won\u2019t be enough do dislodge them. To really clear off the biofilm of bacteria, you need to scrape it with a tongue-scraper.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t find these in the grocery store near the toothbrushes, you can order one online, and some toothbrushes have tongue scrapers built in on the reverse side. Between brushing and rinsing your teeth is the best time to scrape your tongue. Start at the back and work forward, and try to get as much of the surface area as you can.<\/strong><\/p>\n For the first few days, you might be surprised by how much biofilm comes away with the tongue scraper, but the longer you stick with it, the cleaner your tongue will become<\/strong>, until it seems like you\u2019re scraping away nothing but clean spit. See if you notice the difference in your breath and your sense of taste when you get to this point!<\/p>\nFinding The Best Tools For Cleaning Your Tongue<\/h3>\n