Reducing the risk of diseases by ‘tongue brushing’

Reducing the risk of diseases by ‘tongue brushing’

We all brush our teeth every day because we don't want cavities, but many people forget that there is another part of our mouth that needs cleaning, and that is our tongue. Why should we brush our tongue? How is it beneficial, and how does it make food taste better?

The tongue is a vital organ for tasting.

Our tongue has taste buds, and when these buds come in contact with sugar, they send a signal to the brain that interprets it as a certain taste. This is how we can distinguish between different flavors.

The tongue can detect five tastes.

It is now widely accepted that the tongue can detect up to five different tastes, which are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (savory). Umami may not be as well known, but it is the taste that comes from monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is an amino acid that stimulates the appetite. It's like when we boil chicken bones to make soup, the taste we get from the chicken bone broth is umami.

What about spicy?

Actually, spicy is not a taste. It is a sensation that causes irritation on the tongue, and it uses the same process as pain. There are many pain receptors in our mouth, and they send signals to the brain through the pain pathway. The brain then interprets the signal as "spicy."

How can taste buds deteriorate?

Research studies have compared Thai people with Japanese people, and it was found that Thais have a higher minimum threshold of taste perception. This means that we are so sensitized to ‘flavors’ that we need to ‘add more’ flavors more before we can ‘taste’ sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavors. The average full score for Thai people is 4, while for Japanese people, it is not more than level 3. Meanwhile, for umami taste, Japanese people can still recognize the taste at about level 3, while Thai people are at level 5, with some individuals heavier than that. Testing at level 6 still resulted in some not recognizing the taste, and further questioning revealed that they were used to consuming flavor enhancers regularly.

Good taste, bad health!

Taste perception is important when it comes to eating. The higher the level of taste perception, the more we need to add seasoning. The more sugar and fish sauce we add, the more we consume sugar and fish sauce per day. Consuming too much sugar increases the risk of diabetes and tooth decay, while consuming too much fish sauce or salt can lead to kidney disease, high blood pressure, and stomach cancer.

The way out for those who like seasoning

For people who have taste problems and problems with their taste buds, try looking in the mirror to see if there is a white film on your tongue, which we call bacteria. If there is, use a brush to clean it. Research has shown that brushing the tongue helps the taste buds work better and reduces the risk of various diseases within the mouth and teeth.

Brushing your tongue the right way:

1. Brush from the base of the tongue on the inside and pull it out to the tip of the tongue on the outside.

2. Brush your tongue once a day before bedtime.

3. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles.

4. You don't need to use toothpaste to brush your tongue, just a regular toothbrush will do.

In addition to tongue brushing, we should also adjust our eating habits. Every time we reduce our taste sensitivity, our tongue adjusts accordingly. When we add more seasonings to maintain the same taste, we also consume less of it. This way, we can enjoy our food longer and be happier with our meals, while reducing health risks.