As we get older suddenly we realised many things we didn't appreciate about being young - being fit, having smooth skin and having all your own teeth. As our loose teeth (and bridges) struggle to deal with chewier food we start eating bland mush and, there is no easy way to say this, OLD PEOPLE FOOD. I'm determined not to let that happen to me and I'm doing everything I can to keep my own teeth as long as possible, and when that's not possible to get the best possible teeth replacement. If you are like me and want to keep on eating whatever you want, I think you'll like my site. It's all about dental health and teeth replacement & maintenance.
Keeping your teeth young
Brush, Scrape, Rinse: How to Clean Your Tongue
Mabel Hicks
When you think about maintaining your oral health, you will probably focus on your teeth and gums. However, there is another important area which is often overlooked—the tongue. The small grooves on the surface of your tongue provide the perfect location for food debris and bacteria to collect. Your oral health routine should include cleaning your tongue. Below is a guide which will help you to keep your tongue clean.
Brush
Many people who attempt to clean their tongue using a toothbrush complain that it triggers their gag relax and makes them retch. However, if you invest in the right type of toothbrush, you can avoid this problem. You should purchase a wide headed toothbrush with soft bristles. The wide head will make it much easier to reach the back of your tongue, and the soft bristles will help to prevent unpleasant sensations when you start brushing. You should gently brush forward from the back of your tongue to lift debris from the surface.
Scape
Brushing alone will not remove all of the bacteria and food particles which have collected on your tongue. After you have brushed your tongue, you should also use a plastic scraper to remove debris and bacteria which are embedded deep within the surface of your tongue. Place the plastic scraper as far back towards the rear of your tongue as you can, and then slowly pull it forward over the surface. Once you have reached the front of the tongue, you should remove the scraper and rinse it before repeating the process. You may also experience problems with the gag reflex during scraping. If this is the case, you should dig the fingernails of one hand into its palm as you scrape. The mild pain will act as a distraction, helping to prevent the gag reflex.
Rinse
Once you have thoroughly brushed and scraped your tongue, you should perform a rinse to remove any lingering food debris. Ideally, you should use mouthwash as this will help to kill bacteria within your mouth, but if this is not possible water will suffice.
Gel
If you feel that your tongue is still not clean, despite regular brushing, scraping and rinsing, you should consider investing in a tongue cleaning gel. This gel, which is available from a pharmacist, is designed to be applied directly to the tongue to combat the buildup of bacteria and food debris.
If you have any concerns about your dental health, you should contact a dental clinic today. A dentist will assess your oral health before recommending appropriate treatments.
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