Keep Your Tongue Healthy, Too!

We usually talk a lot about tooth health, proper oral hygiene, and how important it is to take care of your teeth. However, all of us at our dental office in Clinton Township want to take this opportunity to talk about an often forgotten part of your overall oral health. Your tongue.

Your tongue is a pretty amazing muscle. Not only is it one of the strongest muscles in the body, it serves many purposes including chewing, swallowing, and talking. But it can also hold a lot of bacteria and other smile-damaging particles. This makes proper tongue care just as important to proper teeth and gum care.

Why to Take Care of Your Tongue

Making your tongue a daily part of your oral hygiene routine has lots of benefits.

• Yum!! A cleaner tongue means your taste buds aren’t covered with bacteria or acid, so food tastes better. This benefit alone makes us want to go brush our tongues right now!

• Keeps Teeth Healthier. Your tongue and teeth are in contact most of the day, everyday, which means your teeth are constantly exposed to whatever is on the tongue. If bacteria and acid are lurking on your tongue, the chance for tooth decay and erosion greatly increases.

• Ahhh, Fresh! While there are many reasons behind bad breath, an uncared for tongue is often a culprit. Giving your tongue the attention it deserves is a great way to keep bacteria and bad breath at bay However, if your bad breath doesn’t go away, see your dentist as soon as you can as it may be a sign of something serious.

Give Your Tongue Some Love!

Every time you brush your teeth, make sure you gently brush your tongue too. With over 10,000 taste buds on the tongue, it creates a lot of space for gross stuff to hide. A quick brush with your toothbrush can help. If you have trouble brushing your tongue, which is pretty common, ask your dentist about a tongue scraper.

At our dental office in Clinton Township, we want to make all of our patients aware of the importance of proper tongue care. Make sure to brush at least twice a day, including your tongue, and floss once a day. And as always, regular appointments with us can help catch any problems before they become serious.

Accepting patients from Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, and Roseville.

About The Author

Dr. Sophia Papasifakis Masters

Dr. Sophia Masters boasts 33 years of experience in the field of dentistry. Skilled in different dental procedures, she had advanced training in several prestigious dental institutions such as the Kois Center and The Dawson Center for Advanced Dentistry. She is a professional member of several dental organizations, including the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. Additionally, she actively volunteers for Donated Dental Services, among others, and was an adjunct clinical faculty at Detroit Mercy Dental and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

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