Want to reduce global warming? Brush your tongue!
It’ll help keep your breath fresh and reduce bad breath. So, wherever you happen to be, those are 2 things that anyone within your environment will appreciate!
So, why the tongue? On careful inspection, you’ll notice that your tongue has a rough surface. The top part contains tiny papillae, the small dots that provide the tongue with its rough texture. These papillae contain taste buds that let you taste food.
Speaking of food, that’s a big reason why 50% of the bacteria in your mouth enjoy making the tongue their home. Why? Because it’s a comfy place to hang out and feed off of any leftover food particles within your mouth.
Most of the bacteria in your mouth live in harmony with your oral health, but some like to disrupt the peace. When the “bad” bacteria build up they form “biofilm”, also known as plaque. The slimy stuff you may have noticed on your teeth and tongue when you wake up in the morning. Plaque can actually start forming on your teeth within hours after you brush your teeth.
When plaque builds up it produces acids that attack the enamel of your teeth, promoting cavities, and it can also inflame your gums leading to gum disease. Besides harming your oral health, plaque can also harm those around you by promoting bad breath too.
While your semi-annual teeth cleanings are the most effective option to scrub away plaque, your daily oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing can help keep some of “bad” bacteria in check as well. But brushing your tongue helps a lot too, and it offers some appealing benefits.
The 4 Benefits of Brushing Your Tongue!
- Reduce Bad Breath -Lowering bad breath locally is one way to help improve the planet.
- Improve the Joy of Taste – Brushing your tongue and removing the build-up of plaque removes dull taste buds, so you’ll be able to really taste and enjoy your food.
- Improve Your Health – Brushing your tongue can lower your risk of gum disease, which can lower your risk from other health issues!
- Boost Your Immune System – Your tongue is part of the first line of defense in your immune system. Scraping or brushing it helps prevent toxins from being absorbed into your body which, in turn, will boost your overall immune function. (Something we could all benefit from during life with COVID.)
Brushing your tongue can help you maintain a harmonious balance of bacteria within your mouth that the world around you will also appreciate!
Why not start the day with fresher air! Just add your tongue to your daily oral hygiene routine. Brush it twice daily, after brushing and flossing your teeth. This will keep your tongue clean before you go to bed, and help reduce waking up with bad morning breath – something that’s definitely bad for any environment.
If you find that you’re experiencing on-going bad breath, no matter what you do, you might suffer from chronic dry mouth, or have some other health related issues. Please let us know! We can help diagnose it, and offer you some treatment options. Just give us a call at (206) 524-1000 or reach out to us online!