Daily oral hygiene is important if you want to maintain a healthy mouth. We often think of oral hygiene as cleaning our teeth and gums, yet tongue care is just as crucial, so don’t forget to treat the tongue too!

Oral hygiene maintains healthy bacteria balance

We naturally have bacteria, or “oral flora”, in our mouths. When any part of the mouth is left unclean, including the tongue, the bacteria may over-colonize, causing gum inflammation, infection and decay. Infection-causing bacteria herald the beginning of gum disease and tooth loss. Residue may be left from food, medication or smoking. Oral cleaning is vital to keep naturally-occurring bacteria in balance for a healthy mouth and body.

Oral hygiene removes food debris and plaque

Brushing your teeth and flossing daily removes food debris and prevents plaque build-up. The tongue is just as prone to sticky plaque, especially in tongue grooves. Using a tongue cleaner as part of your daily oral hygiene routine will remove plaque and bacteria from your tongue, leaving your breath fresh and clean. Six-monthly dental check-ups and professional teeth cleaning will ensure a healthy mouth.

Oral hygiene facilitates healthy oral function

When tooth decay takes hold, the gums may become irritated, swollen and sore. Mouth wounds and toothache may be persistent, making it hard to eat and therefore causing nutritional imbalance, difficulty speaking and overall illness. Clean teeth, gums and tongue promote healthy oral function.

A fresh mouth is attractive to others

An unclean mouth, especially the tongue, may cause bad breath. Smokers’ breath may be off-putting. Using a Tongue Detox Cleanser to clean the tongue surface will freshen your tongue for pleasant smelling breath. Our breath is important for first impressions and how we are perceived and accepted by others. Contact the team at Harley Street Dental Studio in the city of London for more information on oral health.