The Tongue and Its Role in Oral Health

The human body’s strongest muscle, the tongue, is also a heavyweight in your oral health. With over 10,000 taste buds, the tongue is responsible for identifying tastes and is a major indicator of health conditions depending on its color. A healthy tongue should be a pinkish color and generally smooth. Germs and bacteria often live on the tongue and can sometimes even become trapped. These germs can then lead to discoloration of the tongue or other symptoms like bad breath. 

Don’t ignore your tongue when it comes to daily cleaning!

Your tongue is covered in tiny bumps, called papillae. The surface of the tongue can harbor a lot of bacteria. The bacteria and trapped germs on the tongue can lead to bad breath, affect your sense of taste, and even travel to other parts of your mouth. Overgrowth of bacteria can turn your tongue yellow, white, or even black and hairy-looking! You should always be on the lookout for color changes in your tongue, as this can signify a problem.

Make it a habit to thoroughly clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. You can use a tongue scraper, a small tool designed to scrape the tongue and get rid of bacteria and germs. Your regular toothbrush will also do the job. Use it to scrape your tongue all the way to the back of your mouth.

If dry mouth is an issue, brushing or using a tongue scraper may be difficult. To prep the tongue for this type of cleaning, a spray or mouth gel can be used to soften the residue and protect the muscle from tissue damage.

To maintain good oral hygiene, it is recommended to regularly examine your tongue and alert your dentist of any sores, cuts or colorations that are taking a long time to heal or go away. Visit West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental for a checkup. Dr. Krengel also screens for oral cancer and many of the warning signs of oral cancer be discerned by the tongue. 

Top 4 Reasons to Visit Krengel Dental

It’s been estimated that half of all Americans do not visit the dentist regularly.  It’s important to make sure you’re visiting the dentist every 6 months for a routine cleaning and checkup. If you’re part of that statistic, here are some reasons why regular dental visits are so important.

1. Catch Problems Ahead of Time

Dental problems can get severe quickly if they aren’t treated right away. Cavities, damaged fillings, and other dental problems may require intensive procedures such as a root canal down the line if they aren’t treated and prevented with regular dental checkups. By visiting the dentist regularly, you can prevent costly and invasive procedures later.

2. Prevent Oral Cancer and other health problems

Here at West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental, we screen regularly for oral cancer during standard dental cleanings. The Oral Cancer Foundation reports that one American dies from oral cancer every hour but the disease is highly treatable if diagnosed early. Dental exams can also detect other health problems you have, such as gum disease or oral health problems that can affect your overall health, such as heart disease.

3. Keep Your Smile Healthy and White

Regular dental cleanings are essential to keeping your smile white and healthy! A dental cleaning removes plaque, debris, and stains that even brushing your teeth regularly can’t do. You still need to keep brushing in between visits!

4. Visit the friendly staff at Krengel Dental!

Our top priority is to keep our clients relaxed and pain free and we make sure you’re comfortable before every procedure, even just a routine cleaning. We have computers and satellite radio in our rooms so you can choose to listen to music or watch movies on headphones or aloud. We want your trip to the dentist to be something you look forward to! 

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Here at West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental, we want to inform you about a growing concern: Oral Cancer.

According to National Cancer Institute estimates, in 2013:

-There will be 41,380 new cases of oral cancer in the US

-Of those cases, 7,890 will result in deaths

-On average, a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day

When it comes to oral cancer, early detection is the key to survival. This serious dental disease, which pertains to the mouth, lips or throat, is often highly curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages. Visiting your dentist for regular check ups and avoiding tobacco are the key factors in preventing oral cancer.

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is any cancerous tissue growth located in the oral cavity (mouth), on the lip, and the oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth). 

Oral cancer most commonly involves: 

• the tongue, which accounts for 20% to 25% of cases
• floor of the mouth, 15%
•  the lip, 10% to 15%
• minor salivary glands, 10% to 15%.

Oral Cancer frequently has no symptoms; however, when symptoms do occur, the most common include: 

• A sore or ulcer on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal
• A lump on the lip, or in the mouth, or in the neck
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth
• Unusual bleeding, pain, or numbness in the mouth
• Oral pain that does not go away
• Difficulty or pain with chewing, swallowing, or jaw opening
• Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
• Tooth loosening
• Bad breath
• Sensory loss in the face
• Abnormal taste in the mouth
• Tongue problems

Come in to Krengel Dental for your regular dental checkup and get screened for Oral Cancer.