When we clean our teeth at home, we tend to focus on the teeth. With flossing, we pay a little attention to the gums. But what about the tongue? Did you know that cleaning your tongue can actually help protect your smile from bad breath and other oral health concerns? Should patients in Richardson, TX be using a tongue scraper?
The Benefits
Our tongues become coated in bacteria over time, just as our teeth do. When you use a tongue scraper as recommended, you gently remove the layers of bacteria and harmful elements from the tongue. Doing so can help improve the health of your smile, while also reducing the risk of bad breath in the process. You should perform a scraping each time you brush your teeth to help clean your smile.
Can I Use My Toothbrush?
A scraper provides a much more through cleaning. However, if you aren’t ready to pickup a scraper from the store yet, then you can help a little by brushing your tongue. You don’t have to be rough, a very gentle brushing of the surface will do.
Brushing and Flossing
Brushing and flossing are essential for maintaining optimal oral health. Even if you have your teeth cleaned professionally cleaned and see the dentist regularly you still need to care for your smile from home. You should brush your teeth twice a day, once when you wake up and again before going to bed. Each session should take about two minutes to ensure you’re cleaning properly. You also need to floss every night before bed, as floss can reach the food particles trapped between teeth that a toothbrush’s bristles cannot. If you have question about proper brushing and flossing, from what products work best to the proper methods, we can help! We can also discuss tongue scraping and other preventive measures to help safeguard your smile.
Do You Have Questions About Tongue Scraping?
We can offer advice and recommendations to help ensure you take proper care of your smile. To schedule a consultation, call the Viva Dental Family Dentistry office nearest you at (214) 337-7800 (Dallas) or (972) 437-6000 (Richardson).
