Look, the headline “Brushing your tongue will changed your life” is a bit of an exaggeration, but I have noticed some improvements. Let me explain something.
I thought it was not good to brush your tongue
Somewhere I read that there is a microbiota on the tongue, a family of bacteria that can be beneficial to us, and I was left with the idea that it would not be very good to eliminate them.
This belief changed for me after reading a medical article that said just the opposite. The information I found was much more reliable and I finally decided to give it a try.
The tongue: a refuge for bacteria
According to this study, if the tongue is not cleaned properly, bacteria can reach the teeth or, even worse, worsen dental health problems. You can consult the study yourself here: the subgingival and lingual microbiota during the onset of periodontitis , carried out in collaboration with the University of Michigan and The Forsyth Institute.
There’s also this other research from the American Microbiological Association on the differences between bacteria from patients with halitosis and healthy patients . Very enlightening
What were the conclusions of the studies?
In both studies, people were randomly selected who met the previously established requirements: age range, having some oral condition or being healthy.
They were notified of a series of procedures that they had to follow during the tests, taking samples both at the beginning and during the duration of both experiments.
The results, although quite varied, made it clear that the bacteria present on the tongue were closely related to the conditions suffered by the patients , demonstrating that problems such as halitosis or periodontitis can also be linked to poor tongue hygiene.
Nearly 700 species of bacteria live in our mouths, and most reside on our taste buds. Following the latest studies, this also showed that poor lingual hygiene can affect our sense of taste, as well as cause other types of diseases that will affect our mouth.
The benefits of cleaning your tongue well
The biggest benefit I have obtained from brushing my tongue frequently is that my breath has become fresher and longer lasting. I have barely developed tonsioliths, and I also feel that the health of my teeth has improved.
I’m not the only one who says that it’s good. The researchers who conducted the study I mentioned above came to the conclusion that brushing your tongue can also have these benefits:
Prevent the appearance of cavities
Bacteria on the tongue can end up on the teeth . After all, they are very close and constantly come into contact. So it is not difficult for those responsible for causing cavities to move from one area to another.
Elimination of certain types of halitosis
The study showed that halitosis comes from a layer that forms on the tongue , called the lingual coating . It mainly accumulates at the back of the tongue. It is one of the main causes of halitosis. Regular brushing of the tongue removes this layer and can eliminate this type of halitosis.
Better sense of taste
Inside our mouths, there are both good and bad bacteria. This second group can affect our sense of taste, as they damage our taste buds. By maintaining proper tongue hygiene, you will be able to enjoy food more .
Reduce certain diseases
Does cleaning your tongue only reduce the risk of the conditions we have mentioned? No, it also prevents bacteria from entering the inside of our intestinal tract and throat , reducing the possibility of suffering from certain diseases.
How can you maintain good lingual hygiene?
Many people use the back of the toothbrush, or the bristles themselves, to clean their tongue. Is this correct? It can help, but I think it is not the most hygienic, nor the most comfortable.
In the featured photo of this article you see me with an electric toothbrush, but in reality, I would recommend using a normal one, which I’m sure you have at home.
Ideally, use a tongue scraper , or use an irrigator that includes a tongue head . This will thoroughly clean the surface of the tongue, weakening the bacteria so that it is easier to remove. If you buy it with one of our links, then you help us continue with this work, we have to live from something.
Tongue scraper; Kills all bacteria
The Oralbrush tongue scraper is the best-rated by customers on Amazon, standing out for its soft bristles that reach the cracks of the tongue to remove bacteria, and are not uncomfortable when applying force to remove the white stain.
Using it is very simple; Before brushing, pass the fences with your tongue, without using too much force, to clean their surface. Rinse your mouth and continue with your usual dental hygiene routine.
