Contents:
- Medical Video: EASY AND NATURAL WAY TO CLEAN DIRTY TONGUE AND REMOVE BAD BREATH
- What is a healthy tongue like?
- How to maintain a healthy tongue?
- 1. Clean the tongue with a special cleanser for the tongue
- 2. Drink lots of water
- 3. Gargle with salt water
- 4. Don't use jewelry on the tongue
Medical Video: EASY AND NATURAL WAY TO CLEAN DIRTY TONGUE AND REMOVE BAD BREATH
Compared to teeth, the tongue is a part of the mouth that is often overlooked in cleanliness and health. However, did you know that there are several diseases caused by a dirty tongue? Dr. Puneet Ahuja, Senior Consultant in Dental Surgery at the Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, India said that some infections can be caused due to poor tongue hygiene. Therefore, it is important to know how to maintain a healthy tongue to avoid a number of infections that can interfere with your health.
What is a healthy tongue like?
Healthy tongues are pink with small spots called papillae, there will also be a thin white layer on top. Dr. Puneet Ahuja says that having a pink tongue is not a myth, it is a fact that everyone needs to know. If your tongue is black, yellow, white, or even red, your tongue may not be clean.
How to maintain a healthy tongue?
When you use your tongue continuously, but ignore the treatment, the condition can have a negative effect. The tongue can show signs of the problem by experiencing discoloration. In some cases it is accompanied by pain or discomfort. Colored or painful tongues can indicate more serious health problems such as vitamin deficiencies, AIDS, and oral cancer. To prevent various diseases and infections that might occur, you must maintain a healthy tongue by:
1. Clean the tongue with a special cleanser for the tongue
Dr. Euan Swan of the Canadian Dental Association in Ottawa said that the surface of the tongue can accommodate many bacteria. The accumulation of germs on the tongue can be one of the causes of bad breath. Bacteria that are confined in the tongue can travel to other parts of your mouth. This can cause plaque buildup which causes tooth decay and gum disease.
Excessive bacterial growth can turn your tongue yellow, white or even black and hairy. Studies at the University of Michigan's School of Medicine found that about one third of the bacterial species found on human tongues do not grow on other surfaces in their mouths.
Therefore, Dr. Ahuja said the important way to keep the tongue healthy is to clean it using a special tongue cleanser. You can use it by pulling it from the base to the tip of the tongue. Repeat this activity two to three times during the tongue cleansing process.
Marc Lowenberg, a beauty dentist in New York, says that at least you cleanse your tongue once a day. Use a tongue cleanser after brushing your teeth in the morning or evening. After using a tongue cleanser, you are advised to use a non-alcoholic mouthwash or rinse with warm water.
2. Drink lots of water
Take 2 liters of water per day to keep your body hydrated. This method can also help keep your tongue pink and healthy because water helps cleanse the bacteria on your tongue and keep it moist. Eating enough water also avoids your mouth from dryness which risks promoting microbial growth on the surface of the tongue.
3. Gargle with salt water
To maintain a healthy tongue, you can gargle with salt water. The trick, fill the glass half full with warm water and put half a teaspoon of salt into it. Then, use the liquid to gargle. In an article published in the British Dental Journal, salt water rinses are useful for increasing pH in the mouth so as to inhibit bacterial growth
4. Don't use jewelry on the tongue
Body piercing carries a risk of infection for the body. However, according to the Canadian Dental Association, the risk of infection caused by piercing on the tongue is much higher. This is because the mouth and tongue itself are loaded with bacteria. In addition, metal jewelry that is used can also damage your teeth and gums. Even the tongue piercing procedure itself can damage the nerves that can make the tongue lose its sensitivity.
Begin to practice the four things above to keep your tongue clean, healthy and well-maintained.
