When you think of bacteria in your mouth, where does your mind go first? Is it your teeth? Or is it your gums? Now answer this: did you ever consider how much bacteria lives on the top of your tongue? There are literally thousands of bacteria on your tongue at any given time, so including it in your regular oral health routine carries several benefits. Inside, your dentist in Ellington explains why so much bacteria lands on your tongue and how to remove it, giving you cleaner and fresher-smelling breath every day.
The Tongue Is the Ideal Home For Bacteria
You may not have considered it before, but your tongue is just as vulnerable to bacteria as your teeth and gums are for several reasons. Just like your teeth, your tongue is not perfectly smooth. The human tongue has 3,000 to 10,000 taste buds which create thousands of tiny crevices for bacteria to live in. According to the National Breath Center, 150 million bacteria on average can be found on the human tongue.
Your tongue is also, essentially, a sponge for the foods you eat. The number one cause of chronic bad breath is food debris that sticks to it, so failing to remove this debris will allow the bacteria to multiply.
Mouth Rinses Will Not Remove Bacteria
As you eat throughout the day, a layer of microorganisms will continue to build up and create a biofilm on the top of your tongue. This film cannot be removed with water or mouthwash alone because it only removes the outer cells of the biofilm and not the film itself.
Biofilm is usually white, yellow, or tan-colored and made up of bacteria, food debris, dead cells, and other digestible materials. The only way to remove this it is to physically brush it with your toothbrush or other tongue scraping tool proven to remove bacteria.
The Correct Tongue-Brushing Method
Brushing your tongue along with the rest of your teeth will dramatically reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth and reduce the likelihood of cavities and tooth decay. Doing this means exercising proper tongue-brushing technique. To do this, dab a small amount of toothpaste in the middle of your tongue and brush your tongue using short controlled strokes. Start from the back of the tongue and brush the bacteria towards the tip. This will make it easier to spit out once you finish brushing.
Brush up and down and from side to side to ensure you get all the crevices in between your taste buds. Remember not to brush too hard or overbrush as you may break the skin, creating more pathways for bacteria.
If you’re still having issues with bad breath, ask your dentist for other prevention techniques at your next dental visit!
About the Author
Dr. Warren Zahner DMD, graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine and completed his residency at the Hartford Hospital Dental Clinic. He is a member of The American Dental Association, the Connecticut State Dental Association, and the Tolland County Dental Society. To learn more about Dr. Zahner and his practice, contact him at (860) 870-9031 or visit his website.