Experts say that brushing the teeth without brushing the tongue can lead to bad breath; regular tongue brushing or scraping followed by rinsing is known to reduce the build-up of problematic bacteria that lead to oral health problems. A 2019 study in The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice found that brushing and scrubbing along the tongue’s surface reduced chances of bad breath significantly. Dr Gilbert Nuwagaba, an adult and paediatric dentistry specialist, says that the tongue has two surfaces, mainly the dorso (top) and the ventro (bottom), and the top part contains thread features called papillae. He adds that the papillae collects food and liquid which they come into contact with and are a habitat for the bacteria (normal flora) as well. With this, an unclean tongue increases bacterial load in the mouth thus leading to halitosis (bad mouth smell), degraded taste of food and drinks, ear, nose and throat conditions such as tonsillitis, fungal infections like oral candidiasis and glossitis (swollen tongue), especially if bitten and the bacteria enter into the deeper tongue muscles. Dr AbduKadir Mamataliev, a dentist at Deva Medical Center-Nyarutarama, is of the view that many people understate the importance of brushing the tongue, yet it is supposed to be brushed. He says that some of the best ways to clean the tongue is through tongue scraping, this is the process of running a simple tool across your tongue to remove bacteria, food particles, and other debris from the surface. Dr Mamataliev says that studies have shown that tongue scrapers are the most effective ways for removing plaque from the tongue and mouth. Not only that, but tongue scrapers are often flatter and less intrusive than a toothbrush. He says that tongue scrapers are typically made out of metal or plastic, and all you need to do is move the scraper from the back of the tongue, forward to the surface. “Make sure you scrape the entire surface area of your tongue, not just one place. Repeat this step two to five times as needed and then clean the scraper under running water in preparation for your next use.” Dr Mamataliev explains that the toothbrush is always a suitable way to clean your tongue. If you don’t have the time to go looking for a tongue scraper, this should do the job. He notes that considering the tongue and teeth touch all the time and share a ton of bacteria, you don’t need a separate toothbrush to clean them. You can clean your tongue before or after brushing your teeth. He urges to always rinse out the mouth with water after this type of cleaning, and the tool of choice itself. Dr Mamataliev says that it is recommended to combine the use of mouthwash with either the tongue scraper or toothbrush. Separately using mouthwash will not be effective enough in ensuring strong oral health. If you only use mouthwash, you may find your dentist soon telling you how to clean your tongue properly. No matter the cleaning method of one’s choice, Dr Mamataliev emphasises ensuring that the tongue is completely clear of plaque or bacteria, and the mouth feels clean before leaving the bathroom. He says that it is highly recommended to brush the teeth and tongue twice a day. Brushing in the morning after waking up and before you go to sleep at night is the most common practice. In addition to cleaning your tongue, he suggests other good oral health habits such as; flossing teeth daily, maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet, brushing the teeth twice a day using toothpaste that contains fluoride, visiting a dentist for professional cleaning and to keep you updated on your progress. “We recommend that you visit a dentist at least twice a year to ensure your oral health remains perfect,” Dr Mamataliev says. He further notes that the tongue can become covered in layers of bacteria because of poor oral hygiene, smoking, dry mouth, or certain medication types. A build-up of bacteria will start to exude unpleasant odours. Cleaning the tongue, he says, will benefit you, and the people around you. He adds that brushing the tongue frees up your taste buds, encouraging a healthy amount of saliva production, aiding digestion and improving the overall flavour of your food. Dr Mamataliev says that brushing off the bacteria from the tongue will reduce plaque formation within the mouth that could cause unfortunate side effects such as tooth decay, gum disease and cavities. He urges one to drink enough water to stop the mouth from becoming dry, as this will help keep bad breath away.
