Why Cleaning Your Tongue Is Just As Important As Brushing?

By Shubhi Kumar
10 May 2025, 16:00 IST

Brushing your teeth is essential. If you’re skipping your tongue, you're missing a major part of oral hygiene. Your tongue can harbour bacteria and toxins that affect your breath, taste, and overall health. Tap to read!

Bacteria Buildup

Most of the time, the tongue surface traps bacteria, food particles, and dead cells. As a result, it might lead to bad breath and/or infection.

Bacteria on the tongue generate VSCs, which are responsible for bad breath. A clean tongue reduces such adverse compounds effectively.

Improved Oral Hygiene

Routine cleaning of the tongue increases the efficacy of brushing and flossing for an overall cleaner mouth.

Reduced Risk of Oral Health Issues

Removal of bacteria can reduce the occurrence of cavities, gum disease, and plaque accumulation over time.

Enhanced Taste

A clean tongue leads to improved function of the taste buds. This results in food that tastes fresher and more flavourful.

Information credits

This information is sourced from Dr S Ajit shared Ayurvedic wisdom on the Human/Spirit podcast. However, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for personalised suggestions.