Your Dental Hygiene- Important Step to a Bright and Healthy Smile!

Professional dental cleanings are important for maintaining great oral health. However, it is vital that you continue good dental hygiene at home as well.  Dr Charchuk and his Chinook Mall Dental Clinic team recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice per day and floss daily. This helps prevent tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other oral health issues.

There are several ways to help keep teeth strong and healthy. Toothpastes and mouth rinses with fluoride are available over-the-counter. Eating a balanced diet and limiting sugary snacks can also contribute to good oral health.When you can, drink a glass of water after meals. This can help wash away sugars from foods and drinks. If something you eat or drink contains acids, such as sodas or candies, wait 30 minutes before brushing. This will allow your saliva time to neutralize the acids and protect your teeth.

In addition to brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing at least once (have we reiterated this enough?)  it is also important to take good care of your tongue. Bacteria can build up on your tongue throughout the day. For some patients, using a tongue scraper can be the best solution for a cleaner, healthier tongue.

It may sound painful, but it absolutely is not! It is quick, simple, very inexpensive and reaps many benefits including-

• Cleans toxins and bacteria from the tongue
• Helps remove coating on the tongue that leads to embarrassing halitosis (bad breath)
• Helps eliminate undigested food particles from the tongue
• Cleans the taste buds to enhance the sense of taste
• Promotes overall oral and digestive physical well-being

Tips for Cleaning Your Tongue

• Rinse before and after use – The tongue cleaner comes in contact with the bacteria of the tongue. It is important to rinse the bacteria off after cleaning the tongue and also to rinse before cleaning the tongue because bacteria or dust may have settled on the cleaner since the last use and you do not want that bacteria or dust in your mouth.
• Use a paste- you may try out using a paste on your tongue brush or tongue scraper. You may use toothpaste, a paste of salt and baking soda, or gels formulated for the tongue. See what you like best.
• Scrape all areas of tongue – It easy to just scrape the central area of the tongue and neglect the sides. Scrape near the edges as well.
• Scrape as far back as you can – The majority of the tongue bacteria that cause bad breath reside far back on the tongue near the throat. Try to scrape as far back as you can in order to get at that bacteria. I find it is very important to be even more gentle while scraping back there as it is more sensitive. Also be sure not to accidentally jab or poke your tonsils with the tongue scraper.
• Be Gentle – It is important when scraping or brushing your tongue that you be gentle. Do not press to hard. The tongue is a sensitive organ and daily abusive scraping is not good for it. Using gentle strokes is just as effective.

Tongue cleaning devices can be shaped like mini-shovels or a loop and are usually made from either plastic or metal – silver and copper are common choices. Each type has its supporters. They are easy to find at Pharmacies or even online.

Using a tongue scraper stands to reward anyone willing to give it a try, and it is worth understanding the advantages a tongue scraper has to offer your overall health and well being. Your oral hygiene is our business and we look to offer you useful advice and tips to making your teeth, gums and tongue their healthiest! Please call or visit us in the Chinook Centre Professional Building, we love seeing and hearing from you.