Tongue Brushing

By Author: Marilyn Calvo
Total Articles: 3
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Dear Dr. Calvo,

I’m hearing a lot about ‘tongue brushing’. Is this a fad or some marketer’s gimmick at trying to sell something I don’t need by passing it off as good for my ‘oral hygiene’? I just want to hear an unbiased reply from a dental pro.

Thanks,
Mr. Skeptical

Dear Mr. Skeptical,

I understand what you mean. I had a client the other day that told me that if tongue brushing was important there would be 101 tongue cleaning products out there already, which is what the case is for toothpaste and dental floss products.

I don’t have a history of when the importance tongue brushing or cleaning began but I can tell you the facts as to why it is important and why it IS a good oral hygiene practice.

As you sit there reading this, the front part of your tongue is probably touching your teeth and is (sort of) pushed up against the upper wall of your mouth, right? As you swallow saliva, the more you push the front part of your tongue against the upper ridge of your mouth and against your front teeth. These motions help to ‘clean’ this side of your tongue.

But ...
... what about the back part of your tongue?

As that part is against only the soft part of your upper mouth and it does not brush against your teeth, it does not get cleaned.

This is why many ‘bad breath’ tests ask you to place a spoon as far back on your tongue as possible, take out the spoon, wait a few minutes, and then take whiff of the spoon. This basically informs you of how foul your breath is/can be.

So, yes, tongue brushing or tongue cleaning is in fact a very good oral hygiene habit.

Regards,
Dr. Calvo

About Author:
Marilyn Calvo DDS is an author of Marilyncalvo.com; Visit (http://www.marilyncalvo.com/) for more information about Cosmetic Dentistry.