The Tribune

By Dr Tamika Ferguson

Whenever thinking about oral health most of us remember the basics – brush your teeth twice daily and floss once a day. We would not normally say and remember to brush the tongue. The tongue is a very important part of your oral cavity; it not only functions in many capacities but if its hygiene is neglected this can lead to halitosis (bad breath). Your tongue is a set of muscles which are supplied with blood and has many nerves. The tongue not only allows us to speak, chew or swallow but it is also responsible for taste.

Main functions of the tongue:

• Eating

The tongue’s main job is to aid in eating. It allows us to turn solid food into a consistency that can be swallowed. When chewing food our tongue and cheeks work in coordination to move food between the teeth. The tongue presses the food against the palate and moves it toward the back of the throat which starts the process of swallowing.

• Tasting

The tongue contains our taste buds. On average, a person can have 3,000 to 10,000 taste buds. These taste buds house taste receptors which allow us to differentiate between flavours. Our taste perception is made up of five categories: sweet, sour, salty, savoury and bitter. The taste stimuli also trigger an increased production of saliva and stomach acid to start the digestion process.

• Speaking

Did you know the tongue can produce more than 90 words per minute? Our tongue, lips and teeth work together to form sounds from the throat into understandable letters and words. We rely on the tongue’s agility and flexibility to speak. The tongue is so flexible because it consists of eight muscles that allow it to move in different directions. It especially plays a big part in the proper pronunciation of the consonants “t”, “d”, “l” and the rolling of the letter “r”.

Importance of

cleaning your tongue

The health of your tongue is just as important as your teeth. If not properly cleaned, the tongue can harbor bacteria and food particles. In order to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, your teeth and tongue need to be cleansed thoroughly. Every time you brush and floss your teeth, to complete your oral care regimen, your tongue should be brushed as well.

Cleaning the tongue is not difficult; simply place a smear of toothpaste on your soft tooth brush and starting from the back of the tongue work your way to the tip using circular motions. Then rinse with water or your favourite mouth rinse. If you feel you need a more thorough cleaning then use a tongue scraper which can be purchased from any pharmacy. A good indication your tongue is thoroughly cleaned is a nice pink colour.

Though the tongue is small in comparison to other parts of the body, it is powerful. It plays a major role in eating, tasting and speaking. The tongue should not be a nest for bacteria so do not forget to brush it! Try not to have a sharp tongue, but a clean one.