Oral health: Say ahhh…

Your oral healthcare is not only in your teeth. Learn to take care of your tongue.

A healthy tongue shows a pinkish color, with no stains and with the taste buds always on call, ready for when they are touched by food, under any circumstance. The tongue helps us talk and eat, but few people pay attention to it, leading to its poor hygiene, they may eventually become red or even black with signs of infection.

Actually the most evident sign of infection in any part of the body is when the tongue becomes discolored or white. Typically, this means a flu-like illness or deep vitamin deficit, but it could be a symptom of oral cancer or even AIDS.

In any case, the tongue should not be forgotten – and with it, its hygiene. Keep the next tips in mind.

Rub the tongue with your toothbrush: some brushes already have a mechanism to brush the tongue. After brushing, rinse your mouth with water and discard. It should be done, at least, once a week. If you don’t have a brush with this device, look for a specific brush for this purpose.

Try mouth wash elixir: gargle with antimicrobial solutions, appropriate for oral health, also helps a lot in the care of the tongue.

Drink green tea: This kind of tea helps to kill the bacteria accumulated in your tongue.

Avoid grapes and berries: not because they cause oral diseases or because they promote the growth of bacteria, but only because they color the mouth. At least, after eating these foods, rinse your mouth effusively. Otherwise, your tongue will look black.

Drink water. Drink lots of water: dehydration is, often, the main responsible for xerostomia, dry mouth, and consequently, bad breath.