4 Reasons to Clean Your Tongue

Brushing and flossing shouldn’t be the only steps included in your dental hygiene routine. Recent studies suggest tongue cleaning reduces harmful bacteria in your mouth. At Kidz Connextion located in Phoenix, your dentist is passionate about dental hygiene, including the importance of tongue cleaning. Here are four reasons to clean your tongue.

Combat Bad Breath

Do you suffer stinky breath and have tried everything from special toothpaste to mouthwash with no results? A 2014 study by the Journal of Periodontology revealed that cleaning your tongue is one solution to reduce bad breath. The study discovered tongue cleaning removes up to 75 percent of the compounds that cause bad breath versus a toothbrush only removes 45 percent of the tongue’s compounds.

Eliminate White Tongue

A white tongue is a condition that results from poor hygiene, trapping bacteria and debris into the tongue’s tiny bumps, or papillae. Your Phoenix, AZ dentists advise a gentle scraping of the tongue to solve this usually harmless condition.

Reduce Plaque

Plaque is a thin sticky film of bacteria typically found on your teeth and tongue. Regular flossing and brushing removes this bacteria on your teeth, but what about your tongue? That’s why tongue cleaning is important for removing these harmful bacteria and preventing plaque from spreading across your body through your saliva. 

Improve Taste

It’s no wonder your tongue’s build-up of bacteria and plaque has a profound effect on taste. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, taste sensations improved significantly after two weeks of tongue cleaning using a tongue scraper. 

Kidz Connextion has three convenient locations in Phoenix, Arizona. To schedule an appointment at 2533 N 75th St, text 623-232-0749. For our office at 2046 N 24th St, text 480-666-5984. For our office at 524 E Baseline Rd, text 480-405-4714. Or, visit Kidz Connextion on our website.

Mouthwash 101

Mouthwash has been around since the beginning of the Roman empire thousands of years ago. Today, many people include mouthwash in their dental routine to feel fresh and clean. At Kidz Connextion located in Phoenix, AZ, our dentists are passionate about oral health, including the importance of mouthwash. Here’s everything you need to know about mouthwash.

Mouthwash Can’t Cure Bad Breath

Halitosis or bad breath refers to the condition where bacteria grows in your body or mouth, resulting in stinky breath. While mouthwash does transform your breath into a minty fresh, it only masks the smelly odor temporarily. Bad breath is typically an underlying symptom of many health problems such as poor hygiene, gum disease, infection, or chronic illnesses. 

Mouthwash Doesn’t Replace Brushing or Flossing

Contrary to popular belief, rinsing your mouth with mouthwash doesn’t mean ditching the toothbrush or floss. Mouthwash is an addition to your dental routine. Not everyone uses mouthwash, but everyone should be brushing and flossing their teeth regularly for good oral health. 

Mouthwash Has Different Types

Mouthwash comes in two varieties: cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic mouthwashes come in several different flavors and nice scents for a temporary benefit of masking bad breath. For patients with gingivitis or dry mouth,  your Phoenix, AZ dentist prescribes therapeutic mouthwash. Therapeutic mouthwash can only be bought with a dentist’s prescription, so contact our office today for an appointment. 

Mouthwash Is Not for Children

Fluoride is a common ingredient in mouthwash. But increased fluoride exposure leads to fluorosis, a condition that affects teeth while they’re developing permanent molars. Another reason why it’s not advised for children under six years to use mouthwash is the potential to swallow the product.

Kidz Connextion has three convenient locations in Phoenix, Arizona. To schedule an appointment at 2533 N 75th St, text 623-232-0749. For our office at 2046 N 24th St, text 480-666-5984. For our office at 524 E Baseline Rd, text 480-405-4714. Or, visit Kidz Connextion on our website.

Tongue Scraper

A tongue scraper may sound like a torture device, but it’s actually a very effective oral hygiene tool. To assist with preventing bad breath, a tongue scraper can be used after you finish brushing and flossing and it will take excess bacteria off the tongue and out of the mouth. Tongue scrapers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and our doctor at Kidz Connextion is here to explain how they work.

If you’ve ever stuck your tongue out in a mirror and noticed a white coating on top, this is a combination of plaque, leftover food, and bacteria. To clean your tongue using this tool, place it at the back of the tongue, pulling the scraper forward. You may choose to clean your tongue with a toothbrush, but a tongue scraper is just slightly more effective in removing this layer of biofilm. Investing in a tongue scraper is not necessary, but it can help you reach the next level of clean when it comes to your oral hygiene routine.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.

Bad Breath

When children have bad breath, it’s usually because their oral hygiene needs more attention. However, there are some other possible reasons parents should be aware of, most of which we can help determine and treat at Kidz Connextion.

Maintaining good oral hygiene includes brushing the tongue. It’s easy for bacteria to accumulate on it and contribute to bad breath. But another important component of oral hygiene is saliva production. Saliva washes away bacteria and food particles, and when it’s disrupted or the child’s mouth dries out, bacteria will be able to spread much more easily. Mouth breathing and not staying hydrated during exercise obviously cause dry mouth, but so do some medications, including ones used for anxiety and ADHD. There are also medications that cause bad breath directly.

If a cavity has developed, the smell of decay could cause bad breath, but that’s true of any kind of infection. Mouth sores and sinus infections are other potential culprits. Tonsils, too, are frequently traps for decaying material and can become inflamed. Young children also sometimes push things up their noses, which can cause nasal drip and create a bad smell.

Kidz Connextion Dental Care maintains offices around Phoenix. To find out more, visit our website at KidzConnextion.com.