Don’t Neglect Your Tongue

When you brush and floss your teeth, are you giving your tongue the attention it needs? Our doctors at Chapel Street Dental encourage you to look in a mirror after reading this to see what color your tongue is. If you notice that your tongue is white, this is due to a layer a bacteria that has planted itself on the tongue and won’t go away until you clean it. A tongue scraper is a powerful tool to implement into your oral care routine, allow us to explain why.

A tongue cleaner, or a tongue scraper, is a device that is designed to clean the coating on the upper surface of the tongue. Regardless of how you clean your tongue, doing so will improve bad breath and the overall health of your mouth. Tongue scrapers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but you, if you don’t wish to invest in one, brushing the tongue, works just as well.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral hygiene or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.newhavendentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Chapel Street Dental in New Haven, CT, call 203-772-1000.

Don’t Neglect Your Tongue

Most of us have been brushing and flossing our teeth for many years. If done correctly, and practiced frequently, we should be brushing our teeth at least twice a day for two minutes and flossing at least once a day. Though our doctors at Chapel Street Dental suggest brushing your tongue, not everyone practices this method and we are here to tell you why you should.

After you’ve given your teeth a good scrub, it’s time to focus on your tongue. At a minimum, you should clean your tongue once in the morning, and once at night before you go to bed. It’s just fine to brush your tongue with your toothbrush in a circular motion, but it’s even better to invest in a tongue scraper. A tongue scraper is a tool that is made of soft, flexible plastic, that gently peels away the layer of bacteria that food leaves behind. Using one can help you keep foul odors out of the mouth and leave you with fresher breath.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral hygiene or preventive dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.newhavendentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Chapel Street Dental in New Haven, CT, call 203-772-1000.