You should brush your teeth twice a day (hopefully), in the morning and in the evening. In addition, we floss and the real fanatics gargle with a sip of mouthwash. Wonderfully fresh and your teeth stay healthy!
But there is one essential factor for a fresh mouth that almost everyone forgets: the tongue! For your oral hygiene, it is very important that you also brush your tongue. Our mouths are a welcome source of bacteria that love to live on our tongues. It is therefore logical that you also have to clean it regularly. It is very important because it can give you nasty ailments if you don’t do it.
- 1. Bad breath: The biggest problem that arises from not brushing your tongue is also a very annoying one; bad breath. The bacteria that settle on your tongue will give off a bad smell. They are often at the back of your tongue, so it is important that you stick your tongue out before you put the brush over it.
- 2. Your taste buds become less strong: if you don’t brush your tongue, the dirt accumulates, creating a thick layer of bacteria, dead skin cells and food residues, also known as a “biofilm”. It coats your taste buds, gradually weakening your ability to taste things.
- 3. A black, hairy tongue: that looks just as dirty as it sounds. It can happen if the bumps on your tongue (the papillae) start to discolor due to drink and food residues. This can give your tongue a kind of hairy look, not very appetizing. Brushing is therefore necessary!
- 4. Fungus infections: yes, that can also be done in your mouth. If the bacteria level in your mouth becomes unbalanced, natural yeasts can overgrow. The result is those white spots on your tongue: fungus. You can get rid of it with medication, but you can prevent it by just brushing your tongue!
- 5. Gum infections: The bacteria on your tongue can spread to your gums. This can cause your gums to become infected and if not treated can lead to periodontal disease. This causes your gums to retract, causing parts in between to become infected again and your teeth can even fall out over time. Now that is bad enough, of course, but chronic periodontal disease is also associated with a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and miscarriages. Please grab the toothbrush / tongue scraper!
Do you want to learn more about the health of your tongue? Then check out the following post to learn more about the symptoms of your tongue. ”Your Tongue Gives You Indications That Your Health Is Not Right; Do Not Ignore These Symptoms!”