HEALTH: Does brushing your tongue destroy your ability to taste?
Interesting question, especially considering that many have said that your tongue cleanliness is closely connected to your breath...
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Oral hygiene is not something that should ever be overlooked. Not only because it is ultimately connected to your overall health, but it also is connected to good social etiquette.
Now going beyond brushing your teeth, there is the question of brushing your tongue. Good tongue hygiene is equally important to teeth hygiene.
Especially considering that your tongue is a major source of bacteria that causes bad breath. And we wouldn't want you to be labeled the person with the bad breath...
Since brushing your tongue with a scraper has become quite popular in western society, we thought it useful to touch on the topic.
The popularity has stemmed from many online videos that speak about Ayurvedic practices that helps with the overall health of your body.
We're not sure about you, but brushing your tongue with a toothbrush is a norm. But does this affect your taste buds?
"Since your tongue harbours bacteria, experts believe you're doing your mouth a disservice if you neglect to clean the (bad) bacteria living on your tongue. But the tongue is also one of the body's most sensitive organs, so how safe is it really to be brushing it?" (News24)
Check out a video from TikTok about Ayurvedic practices.
@iamkandraa #ayurverdic #holistichealth #healingyourself #healingtips #energyhealing #ayurvedictreatment #reikihealing #quantumhealing ♬ Lotus Heart (Original Mix) - Desert Dwellers & Desert Dwellers
According to dentist Dr JJ Serfontein, brushing your tongue as part of your daily oral hygiene practice is recommended.
"A coating of bacteria on the tongue, therefore, actually has a negative impact on your sense of taste, and studies have shown that removing this bacterial coating on the tongue significantly improves your tastebud's ability to 'taste'," says Serfontein." (News24)
The key is to do it lightly and gently, not putting too much pressure when you brush.
In essence, tongue scraping and brushing, when done gently with light pressure, is not harmful to your taste buds.
Image Courtesy of Pexels