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Cleaning Your Tongue

Cleaning your teeth and gums is important, but what about your tongue? Your tongue is often ignored in your daily dental routine. That’s why Drs. Na Xu and Mark Thomas of Healthy Smiles Family Dental recommend Tongue Cleaners/Scrapers. These cleaning apparatuses are sold at most supermarkets and grocery stores. Use them to scrape bacteria and coatings off of your tongue. To learn more, contact our office in Salem, OR.


 


Tongue cleaners are an inexpensive and critical investment. They’re easy to buy and use! Start off by placing the tongue cleaner at the back of your tongue. Slowly scrape it forward down the tongue. Rinse off the device after every full rotation. Clean out your mouth too. Do this for as many times as necessary.


 


The main benefit of using a tongue cleaner is removing tongue coatings. A coating on your tongue can be caused by yeast infections, dry mouth, smoking, medications, and poor oral hygiene. Dead cells and bacteria make up the coating. Removing the coating improves your breath and oral health. Certain scientific studies have shown that consistently using a tongue cleaner improves your sense of taste. Fewer bacteria in your mouth also means fewer dental problems.


 


Be careful when using your tongue cleaner. Don’t place it so far back on the tongue that you activate your gag reflex. The edges on the applicator itself can also cut your tongue if used improperly. Do not use too much pressure.


 


Healthy Smiles Family Dental is located in Salem, OR. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Na Xu and Mark Thomas, visit our website or call 503-385-1185.

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