{"id":283,"date":"2018-01-02T02:12:04","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T02:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.southridgedental.com\/blog\/?p=283"},"modified":"2018-02-02T02:16:33","modified_gmt":"2018-02-02T02:16:33","slug":"family-dentist-in-denton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.southridgedental.com\/blog\/family-dentist-in-denton\/","title":{"rendered":"Brush Your Tongue? Here\u2019s What a Family Dentist in Denton Says"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Using<\/a>

Using a tongue scraper to clean the tongue<\/p><\/div>\n

We\u2019ve all been there: You\u2019re going to an important event on Friday night where you\u2019ll be talking to a lot of people. You\u2019ve picked out your best outfit, your hair looks great and you\u2019ve brushed and flossed before heading out the door. As soon as you arrive, however, you notice a sticky, not-so-fresh feeling in your mouth. But how could that be? You just brushed and <\/em>flossed!<\/p>\n

Now you can\u2019t help but be a little self-conscious as you work the room and find yourself leaning in towards people to be heard during conversation. Despite your best efforts, you\u2019re not sure if your breath is actually as fresh as you thought. If you\u2019ve ever felt like this, a family dentist in Denton will explain why brushing your tongue is the crucial missing step your brushing routine.<\/p>\n

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What Happens When You Don\u2019t Brush Your Tongue?<\/h2>\n

If you could look at your tongue up-close, you\u2019d see hundreds or even thousands of little \u201chairs,\u201d in addition to a collection of bumps that are actually tastebuds. The tongue may look smooth, but you would be surprised at how many nooks and crannies are on its surface!<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this kind of texture provides the perfect hiding place for bacteria, which will stay on the surface of the tongue until they\u2019re removed. If bacteria remain, they not only cause bad breath but also act as a source of bacteria for the entire oral cavity.<\/p>\n

In particular, two strains of bacteria are especially harmful as they\u2019re responsible for causing and gum disease. While brushing and flossing are effective for cleaning these bacteria from your teeth and gums<\/a>, it still leaves them on the tongue\u2019s surface where they can cause problems.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Best Way to Clean Your Tongue?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s natural to think you\u2019re doing great with your hygiene regimen if you\u2019re brushing and flossing regularly. You may even be using a mouthwash every day.<\/p>\n

While a mouthwash is helpful, it only removes surface plaque and bacteria. It\u2019s similar to washing your car. You could just use soap and water to spray it down, but it\u2019s not going to get nearly as clean as if you used a brush or a sponge to physically clean the surface.<\/p>\n

You have two main options to clean your tongue:<\/p>\n