Oral hygiene: Are you skipping one vital step?

The neglected step: Brushing your tongue

Everyone knows you should brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily, and visit your dentist regularly. But there's one vital step to an oral hygiene routine that some people skip — maybe because it's not taught as routinely: Brush your tongue! That spongy surface is a great place for germs to hide, so don't neglect this huge area of oral hygiene.

Brushing your tongue sounds odd if you've never done it, but if you start, you won't want to stop making this part of your routine. You can ask your dentist for tips on how to do it, but it's pretty simple. Some people use commercially available tongue scrapers, which some say do an even better job and are less likely to trigger a gag reflex.

Benefits of tongue brushing

Gently brush your tongue as part of your tooth brushing routine; you can use toothpaste on your tongue as well. You'll notice the breath-freshening effects right away. In fact, cleaning your taste buds might wake up a dulled sense of taste, too.

Consequences of neglecting your tongue

There can be some creepy consequences if you fail to brush your tongue. Did you know "black hairy tongue" is an actual medical condition? It's fairly harmless health-wise, if you discount the mental anguish you may feel at having a black, hairy tongue. Don't be too embarrassed if you get it — the American Academy of Oral Hygiene says 13 percent of the population gets it at some point. But being a regular tongue brusher can go a long way toward keeping you out of that 13 percent.

Identifying and treating hairy tongue

If you suddenly have bad breath, a change in the way your food tastes, or a tickling, gagging, or burning sensation, take a peek at your tongue in the mirror. Hairy tongue is typically black but can also be white, yellow, or even green. It's just an overgrowth of the little bumps on your tongue, but the effect can be dramatic.

Unfortunately, fellow coffee drinkers, too much of our favorite brew can trigger hairy tongue. That, plus coffee breath, makes tongue brushing even more important. Tobacco users are also particularly susceptible — yet another way that tobacco is bad for your health. Medical treatments like antibiotics and radiation can also bring on hairy tongue.

If you do get hairy tongue, here's some good news — it's super easy to get rid of by just upping your oral care routine to include — that's right — tongue brushing. If you have a bad case, a quick trip to the pharmacy's oral hygiene aisle for a tongue scraper might make it easier to eliminate.

When bad breath indicates more serious issues

If you notice bad breath despite your best tongue brushing or scraping, talk to your dentist. The dreaded halitosis can indicate gum or tooth disease, which can't be helped by cleaning your tongue.

Whole-body benefits

Keeping your mouth clean and healthy can reap benefits for your whole body, even lowering your risk for heart disease. Tongue cleaning should be part of your oral hygiene routine to make sure your oral health is the best it can be