We know you have heard all the information on cleaning your teeth and gums for your well-being and overall good health. However, many people have not heard that brushing their tongues is a good idea. If you have sifted through YouTube or TikTok lately, you may have seen a celebrity like Megan Thee Stallion or one of the Kardashians brushing their tongues. Is the trend good for you?
Your Tongue Is an Organ
You may not have thought about this, but your tongue represents one of your muscles and one of your organs. It is crucially important for talking and eating. The tongue has both vertical and horizontal muscle fibers and is tied to many other muscles in your face.
Not only is your tongue full of muscle, but it is also full of taste buds. Humans have between 2,000 and 10,000 taste buds. The older you are, the fewer taste buds you have, so children have more tastebuds than anyone. Your tongue has eight taste bud zones and four different types of tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.
Cleaning Your Tongue
Even though the tongue is a muscle, it still needs to be kept clean to keep the bacteria that cause both cavities and gum disease in your mouth low. The American Dental Association recommends that adults clean their tongues at least twice a day. You can clean your tongue in much the same way you clean your teeth and gums. You can start at the back of your tongue with a bit of toothpaste, and you can make gentle motions with your toothbrush from the back of your tongue to the front of your tongue. Some people brush vertically, while others brush horizontally. It does not matter which way you clean your tongue.
If you do not want to use the same toothbrush you clean your teeth and gums with on your tongue, you can always opt for a tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers come in different varieties, but they all accomplish cleaning your tongue.
Are you not sure if you are cleaning your tongue properly? We can help. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
San Francisco Dental Arts, 220 Montgomery St Ste. 825, San Francisco, CA 94104, 415-854-9396, thesfdentist.com, 12/19/2024, Tags: dentist San Francisco CA,
We know you have heard all the information on cleaning your teeth and gums for your well-being and overall good health. However, many people have not heard that brushing their tongues is a good idea. If you have sifted through YouTube or TikTok lately, you may have seen a celebrity like Megan Thee Stallion or one of the Kardashians brushing their tongues. Is the trend good for you?
