Khaberni - Dentist Arina Suzinova reported that regularly cleaning the tongue helps prevent diseases of the nose, ear, and throat as well as digestive disorders, and in preserving the sensitivity of taste buds.
According to her, the tongue's surface has a complex texture, where many papillae form a large, uneven area, in which food particles accumulate and become a breeding ground for bacteria. As a result, the tongue becomes a "repository" for microbes.
She says, "Food remnants among the papillae become a source of nourishment for bacteria. Over time, this leads to the formation of a biofilm on the tongue, which is one of the most common causes of bad breath. Thus, cleaning the tongue is important not only for preventing dental issues but also for preventing diseases of the nose, ear, and throat, and digestive disorders. Regular cleaning also helps reduce the severity of bad breath and maintain the sensitivity of taste buds."
The dentist emphasizes the necessity of cleaning the tongue twice daily, after brushing teeth, regardless of the presence of a visible plaque layer. In the evening, this process removes accumulated food residues of the day, and in the morning, it removes the biofilm formed overnight.
Special tools for cleaning can be used, with the most suitable being the tongue scraper, which is a spoon-shaped tool.
She says, "The tongue scraper effectively removes the biofilm not just from the back of the tongue but also from the inside of the cheeks as well. Therefore, it is important to place the tongue cleaning tool as close to the base of the tongue as possible and gently move it towards the tip to remove the formed layer."
According to her, a water flosser with a spoon-shaped attachment can be used as an alternative, combining mechanical cleaning and water flow to remove any residues. It is advisable to start with a low pressure when using the water flosser, then gradually increase it as needed. Tongue cleaning tools should also be regularly changed, for instance, toothbrushes should be replaced regularly - every three months.
She says, "Regular tongue hygiene can reduce the amount of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity by about one-third and decrease the accumulation of biofilm. Moreover, tongue cleaning helps in 85 percent of cases to reduce bad breath, while brushing teeth alone reduces its intensity in about 25 percent of cases."
