Brushing your tongue is unnecessary

Okay, so I’ve been reading a lot online lately about oral hygiene. I’m trying to up my game and get my mouth as healthy as possible. I floss religiously, brush twice a day (sometimes even after lunch if I can!), and use mouthwash. But then I came across this article claiming that brushing your tongue is totally unnecessary.

It said something about the tongue’s natural bacteria being important for digestion and that aggressively brushing it can disrupt that balance. Also, it claimed that a lot of the gunk on your tongue is actually helpful for protecting it.

I always thought brushing my tongue was just part of being clean, getting rid of bad breath, and removing that white coating I sometimes get. But now I’m wondering if I’ve been doing it all wrong!

Is brushing my tongue really unnecessary? What are the pros and cons, besides the ones I’ve already mentioned? Are there certain situations where you shouldn’t brush your tongue? And if I do brush it, what’s the proper technique? Am I supposed to use my toothbrush or one of those tongue scraper things? What kind of pressure should I be using? Help! I’m so confused! My tongue feels personally attacked!

Answer

Brushing the tongue is a beneficial practice for maintaining oral hygiene. The tongue’s textured surface, covered in papillae, creates an environment where bacteria, food debris, dead cells, and fungi can accumulate. This buildup contributes to several oral health problems:

• Bad Breath (Halitosis): The anaerobic bacteria residing on the tongue produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which are a primary cause of bad breath. Tongue cleaning physically removes these bacteria and their byproducts, reducing VSC production and improving breath odor.

• Taste Perception: A coating on the tongue can block taste buds, diminishing the ability to fully experience flavors. Removing this coating enhances taste sensitivity, allowing for a more enjoyable eating experience.

• Oral Infections: The bacteria on the tongue can contribute to or exacerbate oral infections such as candidiasis (thrush). Reducing the bacterial load helps prevent and manage these infections.

• Plaque Control: The oral microbiome is interconnected. Bacteria from the tongue can migrate to other areas of the mouth, including the teeth and gums, contributing to plaque formation. By reducing bacteria on the tongue, the overall bacterial load in the mouth is reduced, aiding in plaque control.

• Overall Oral Hygiene: Tongue cleaning is a simple and effective way to improve overall oral hygiene. When performed as part of a daily oral hygiene routine, which includes brushing and flossing, it can contribute to a cleaner and healthier mouth.

Tongue cleaning can be performed using a toothbrush or a tongue scraper. A tongue scraper is specifically designed to remove debris from the tongue’s surface effectively.