Experts say that the condition of the tongue says a lot about hygienic awareness and also reveals the state of health.
Aikta Singh, a consulting dentist at Columbia Asia Hospital in Gurgaon, says that if it is important to brush your teeth, cleaning your tongue is equally essential. Brushing your tongue from time to time is not enough to maintain good hygiene of the tongue.
Here are some tips from experts, including Sonali Bassi, oral care expert at parentune.com, who will help you keep your tongue clean:
1. Clean your tongue regularly to prevent bacteria from growing. You can use toothbrushes designed to clean the tongue or those with an accessory on the back of it. Do not use the front (the one used to brush teeth) to clean the tongue.
2. Another way is to scrape the tongue with a completely washed tongue cleaner or scraper. While shaving, do not apply too much pressure. Scratch in a downward motion at least two or three times. Too much pressure can damage your tongue. Brushing your teeth should also be done in a particular way. Here's what you should know about brushing your teeth.
3. You can use toothpaste to cover your tongue before shaving. Toothpaste neutralizes bacteria on the tongue and helps to eliminate them easily.
4. Rinse mouth thoroughly with water after shaving.
5. Occasionally, you can use a mouth wash after shaving. Washing the mouth helps to eliminate the bad smell caused by the deposition of bacteria on the tongue. But do not use it daily as it can cause excessive drying of the mouth. Read more about how to wash your mouth can fight the germs in your mouth.
6. You can also rinse your mouth with saline water. Take a glass of warm water and pour a half teaspoon of salt into it. Rinse your mouth five to six times a day with it.
7. Drink green tea. Helps eliminate oral bacteria. Read more about the health benefits of green tea.
8. Avoid eating foods like black grapes and berries. These foods may also be the culprits of unwanted color on your tongue.
9. When you have a high fever, a white coat is formed on the top of the tongue. It can be removed by regular cleansing, but if that can not be done, it is a fungal infection. There are ointments for these cases to keep the tongue clean.
10. Drink lots of water. Sometimes dehydration can cause changes in the color of the tongue.
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