Dental knowledge: cleaning the tongue

Cleaning the tongue increases protection against caries.

Cleaning the tongue can increase protection against caries. Regular tongue cleaning is said to reduce an individual's caries risk and to prevent new plaque from forming. Bacteria colonise the tongue easily and can lead to bad breath. A bacterial coating on the tongue is frequently the cause. The unpleasant odours originate directly in the mouth.

The bacteria break down proteins and in doing so release sulphurous gases. A coated tongue often interferes with the sense of taste. Cleaning the tongue promises fresher breath and greater sensitivity in the taste receptors distributed across it.

Special instruments are used to clean and care for the tongue: tongue brushes, tongue scrapers and combinations of the two.

Answered briefly

Frequently asked questions

What is the point of cleaning the tongue?

Cleaning the tongue regularly is intended to reduce the individual risk of caries and to prevent new plaque from forming. It also promises fresher breath: bacteria colonise the tongue easily and cause bad breath there.

Can a coating on the tongue affect the taste?

A coating on the tongue often disturbs the sense of taste. After a cleaning the taste receptors spread over the tongue react more sensitively again. The coating consists of bacteria that break down proteins and release sulphurous gases in the process.

What do you clean the tongue with?

There are special instruments for cleaning and caring for the tongue: tongue brushes, tongue scrapers and combinations of the two. They remove the bacterial coating on the tongue, which is often the cause of bad breath and an unpleasant odour.