Why brushing your tongue is a bad idea

While brushing your teeth is recommended by all dentists, doctors agree that the tongue is much more fragile and should be taken care of.

No advertisements for toothpaste or other oral products escape it: they all show a person brushing their tongue. But according to the doctors, this is not a good idea. Indeed, a healthy tongue is self-cleaning thanks to the saliva that we swallow, on average, a thousand to two thousand times a day.

To do this, the tongue rubs the palate: this is its gentle and effective method of washing. Quite the opposite of too aggressive brushing, with its share of small injuries, inflammations and even infections. Worse, the risk is to damage our taste buds. It's called dysgeusia, a taste disorder. The only cases where brushing your tongue is still advisable: when you smoke, or when you have a dry mouth.

Brushing Your Teeth Twice a Day Reduces Your Chances of Bad Breath

The 700 or so species of bacteria that harbour the mouth, and in particular the tongue, have a very bad reputation. They are particularly often involved in bad breath. However, they have a beneficial role: they help digest, produce vitamins and by covering the tongue, the oral mucous membranes reduce the risk of colonization by foreign bacteria. Bad breath is 90% due to dental plaque.

Bacteria, resulting from a microbial imbalance, release smelly and very sticky substances on which mouthwashes do not act. UFSBD recommends brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes, using a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste, sweeping from the gum line to the tooth, then flossing. Or an interdental brush in the evening.