A great deal of plaque and bacteria accumulates on the human tongue, especially on the back of the tongue. Since the front of your tongue is in repeated contact with your teeth, much of the plaque and bacteria is rubbed off. But, the back of your tongue is only in contact with the soft, upper portions of your mouth and the plaque and bacteria accumulates the heaviest here.
This bacteria and plaque can lead to two problems – additional dental problems and/or bad breath. Cleaning your tongue properly on a daily basis can reduce or eliminate these problems.
There are two recommended ways to clean your tongue. The first way is to use your toothbrush and the second way is to use a tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers are readily available at stores like Walgreens or Wal-Mart. They come shaped like a little rake or an arch. The scrapers come in different sizes to fit different tongue sizes. Many people find that they are less likely to gag if the use a tongue scraper versus the toothbrush.
To use a tongue scraper, insert the scraper into your mouth and go as far back on your tongue as you can reach. Apply some pressure onto your tongue using the scraper and scrape your tongue in a forward motion. Rinse the scraper to remove the bacteria and saliva that you’ve collected and repeat the process. Do this two-to-three times each time you use it.
You should use clean your tongue at least once per day. You can also put some mouth wash on the scraper for additional help.
If you prefer to use a toothbrush, once again, start at the back of your tongue. You can use the same motion as described above and you can do it either vertically or horizontally. Be sure to add some pressure, but not so much as to cause irritation.
When finished, thoroughly rinse your tongue scraper or toothbrush and store them in a cool, dry place.
Richard Cannon is a Local Online Consultant and Business Coach. His passion is to help local businesses to be successful online.
