Have Fun Teaching Your Children To Clean Their Tongues

As a parent, it's one of your responsibilities to teach your children how to brush their teeth thoroughly at least twice every day. Complete dental care, however, shouldn't strictly stop with the teeth. It's also a good idea to talk to your children about cleaning their tongues. Not everyone takes the time to do so, but cleaning the tongue regularly is a smart investment in your oral health. By carefully cleaning your tongue, you reduce the amount of bacteria in youth mouth; the less bacteria that is present, the less the chance of developing issues such as plaque, cavities, and gum problems. There are a series of useful steps to take in cleaning the tongue, and it can be fun to go through these steps with your children.

Brush The Tongue

Every brushing session should include a bit of attention paid to the tongue. Teach your children to, upon finishing brushing their teeth, use the bristles of their brush to go over the upper part of the tongue. Show the children how to do so gently; the tongue is somewhat tender, so it's not advisable to brush the tissue with as much vigor as you might brush your teeth. One fun game is to "paint" the tongue — in other words, take long, gentle strokes with the brush to cover every part of the top of the tongue as though you're painting it.

Use A Tongue Scraper

Many pharmacies sell tongue scrapers that you can buy. Buy a scraper for each of your children — often, this device is made of metal or plastic and has a "U" shape — and show them how to use it. Generally, you push the "U" shape toward the back of the tongue and gently pull forward. This will loosen some white material that your children can then spit into the sink. Teach your children not to push the scraper too far to the back of their tongue, as this could cause a gag reflex.

Rinse With A Mouthwash

Rinsing with a mouthwash is advantageous for your overall oral hygiene, as well as the health of your tongue. When mouthwash is used, it can help to reduce the bacteria on the tongue. Depending on the age of your children, you may wish to find kid-friendly mouthwash. This product generally has a pleasant taste and doesn't contain alcohol. Your kids will have fun swishing the liquid in their mouths for several seconds and then spitting it into the sink.