Stick out your tongue.

How does it look?  Pretty and pink?  Yellow, milky white and coated?  Your mouth is teeming with bacteria that determine whether your teeth fall out or remain pearly white.

600 different species of bacteria in your mouth

Did you know that every drop of saliva contains millions of bacteria and your tongue is like a sponge hanging on to them? Most bacteria live symbiotically in your mouth producing enzymes to break down carbohydrates that aid in digestion and metabolism.  Your mouth is a veritable hot-house for bacterial breeding.  Just think, it’s warm, wet and cozy with an unlimited supply of food and shelter.  That’s great for good bacteria, however it keeps the bad kinds breeding just the same.  Certain bacterium get overgrown when not managed regularly which cover the tongue like a coat.

The truth about the coat

The coating on your tongue can not only look yucky, but it can make you sick.  The bacteria on your tongue contribute to tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease.

Keep the count down

To keep the bacteria at bay, it is important to pay special attention to the strongest muscle in your body.  Make sure not to forget your tongue when brushing.  At many drugstores you can purchase a tongue scraper that will aid in removing some of that build up, however, a kitchen spoon works just as well.   Some patients say they gag too much to even attempt cleaning the tongue, for that Wikihow offers some tips:  http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Gagging-While-Brushing-Your-Tongue.

Here are some gadgets that some patients find helpful.

To your health,

Dr. Bob