Mouth and Tongue Hygiene: Tips and Tricks
Maintaining proper oral hygiene is essential to overall health and well-being. It is not just about having a bright smile; it also helps prevent gum disease, bad breath, and other oral problems. While brushing your teeth is a significant component of oral hygiene, it is equally important to take care of your tongue as well. Also you can contact with Alfa Dental Center anytime you need consultation. In this post, we will discuss three hygienic ways to keep your mouth and tongue healthy.
Brush Your Tongue
Brushing your teeth is not enough to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Your tongue can harbor bacteria, food particles, and other debris that can cause bad breath and other oral problems. Using a tongue scraper or brushing your tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush can help remove these particles and keep your tongue clean. Make sure to brush or scrape your tongue gently to avoid injuring it and cause damage.
In order to ensure continuity in oral hygiene, it is very important to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Tooth brushing eliminates bacteria and food residues that have settled on the tooth surface to a great extent. However, using a toothbrush alone is not enough to maintain oral health and prevent bad breath.
Bad breath is caused by the evaporating sulfur produced by bacteria on the back of the tongue, which toothbrushes cannot reach. The tongue is an organ for taste. The small protrusions on the tongue, called “papillae” in medical language, provide a sense of taste. Because of these small protrusions, we can liken the back of the tongue to the carpet surfaces in our homes. A large proportion of the bacteria that cause bad breath accumulate between the protrusions on the tongue surface, just like in carpets. These bacteria can only be removed from the tongue surface by mechanical cleaning. For mechanical cleaning, it is also necessary to brush the tongue surface.
Gargle with Salt Water
Gargling with salt water is an age-old remedy for oral problems such as sore throat and bad breath. Salt has antiseptic properties that can kill bacteria and disinfect the mouth. Gargling with salt water can also help reduce inflammation and soothe a sore throat. Mix a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle for 30 seconds before spitting out. Do not swallow the salt water.
Saline (salt water) is mostly used to relieve inflammation because it is a hypertonic solution. This means that it contains a higher concentration of salt than the salt inside the inflamed cells. Edema (inflammation) caused by infection or surgery contains water. If it is rinsed with warm salt water, which contains more salt than body fluids, the edema fluid will come out through the process of osmosis. The salt water solution does not irritate the mucous membranes like other mouthwashes containing alcohol. In addition, salt water can draw water from bacteria, and bacteria that lose body fluid cannot reproduce and thrive.
Chew Sugar-free Gum
Chewing sugar-free gum can help increase saliva production, which is essential for healthy teeth and gums. Saliva helps neutralize the acid produced by bacteria in the mouth and helps wash away food particles and debris that can cause bad breath. Make sure to choose sugar-free gum as sugar can promote tooth decay. This is quite natural and effective solution for cleaning the mouth.
More on Brushing Your Tongue
Brushing your tongue is an essential part of oral hygiene, but it is often overlooked. The tongue is a suitable breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause bad breath and other oral problems. Brushing your tongue can help remove these bacteria and keep your mouth clean.
When brushing your tongue, make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a tongue scraper. Brush or scrape your tongue gently to avoid injuring it. As you can guess, tongue is a sensitive organ, so brushing gently is important. While brushing, start at the back of your tongue and work your way forward. Be sure to brush or scrape the sides of your tongue as well.
It is also important to note that brushing your tongue can cause gag reflexes in some people. If this is the case for you, try starting at the front of your tongue and working your way back gradually.
More on Gargling with Salt Water
Gargling with salt water is an effective way to maintain oral hygiene. Salt has antiseptic properties that can kill bacteria and disinfect the mouth. Gargling with salt water can also help reduce inflammation and soothe a sore throat.
To make salt water, mix a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle with the salt water for 30 seconds before spitting it out. Do not swallow the salt water.
It is important to note that gargling with salt water should not be used as a substitute for regular brushing and flossing. It is a supplementary measure that can help maintain oral hygiene.
More on Chewing Sugar-free Gum
Chewing sugar-free gum can help increase saliva production, which is essential for healthy teeth and gums. Saliva helps neutralize the acid produced by bacteria in the mouth and helps wash away food particles and debris that can cause bad breath.
When choosing sugar-free gum, look for gum that contains xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that can help prevent tooth decay. It also helps neutralize the acid produced by bacteria in the mouth.
It is important to note that chewing gum should not replace regular brushing and flossing. It is a supplementary measure that can help maintain oral hygiene.
Conclusion
Maintaining proper oral hygiene is essential for overall health and well-being. Brushing your teeth and tongue, gargling with salt water, and chewing sugar-free gum are three hygienic and natural ways to keep your mouth and tongue healthy. Remember to visit Alfa Dental Center’s experienced dentists regularly and follow a healthy diet to maintain excellent oral health.
By following these simple tips and tricks, you can ensure that your mouth and tongue stay healthy and clean. Remember, a healthy mouth leads to a healthy body. So, take care of your oral hygiene, and your body will thank you for it.