Dental hygiene: Dentist reveals overlooked areas in the mouth you miss while brushing

Dental hygiene is crucial because skipping on it can lead to serious health problems. But surprisingly, most people do not know how to properly brush their teeth.

A dentist has pointed out that you should not miss these crucial areas in your mouth while brushing your teeth: your inner cheeks and tongue.

Earlier, another dentist had also revealed this step you should do before going to bed.

Importance of brushing inner cheeks and tongue

As per Dr Daz Singh, Lead Dentist and Clinical Director for Ollie and Darsh Liverpool, brushing the inner cheeks and tongue is crucial for comprehensive oral care.

Your tongue can often be a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive. Not cleaning it properly is often the cause for oral hygiene challenges such as bad breath and plaque.

Often, even more overlooked than the tongue, are the inner cheeks of the mouth. Cleaning these should be included in your brushing regimen.

Dr Singh explains:

The inner cheeks, being in close proximity to the gums, can accumulate bacteria that contribute to gum disease if left unattended.

Adding,

Regularly cleaning these surfaces aids in the prevention of such issues, promoting optimal oral health.

Benefits of cleaning tongue and inner cheeks

As per Dr Singh, here are some of the benefits you can reap by making it a regular habit to brush your tongue and inner cheeks:

• Remove bacterial plaque: Brushing these areas helps remove bacteria, reducing the risk of plaque formation. Plaque buildup is a major contributor to tooth decay and gum disease.
• Prevent bad breath: Brushing the tongue helps remove odour-causing bacteria, and helps freshen your breath.
• Reduces risk of gum disease: Proper cleaning helps prevent the spread of bacteria to the gum tissue, and reduces risk of diseases such as gingivitis.
• Improves taste:As per the doctor, cleaner tongue allows taste buds to function optimally. This means that your oral health can even help your food taste better.

For a comprehensive approach to oral hygiene, you should not ignore any surfaces of the oral cavity, including the inner cheeks and tongue.

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Sources used:

Ollie and Darsh Liverpool