The tongue is something people rarely consider when thinking about their dog's dental health. A dog's tongue is one of the primary ways in which they navigate the world. Dogs don't have hands that can grasp and inspect things like humans do, so they use their tongues. Let's also not forget that they use it to show affection. While the dog's tongue is one of their most important tools, it's important to know about tongue health and its affect on overall doggy oral health. 

Here are 3 things you should know about your dog's tongue:

Bacteria

Contrary to the popular myth, a dog's mouth is not cleaner than a human's. In fact, dog tongues can contain over 500 types of bacteria. Dogs lick their fur in order to clean themselves, and if they get hurt, they will lick their wounds. If their would has started to become infected, that bad bacteria can transfer to the dog's mouth and exacerbate oral problems like halitosis, gingivitis, periodontal disease. Be sure to keep up on your dog's dental health to avoid worsening these problems. 

Infection

Injuries to the tongue, while not common, can lead to dire consequences - especially if it is hot and your dog is panting. If your dog does have a cut on his/her tongue in overly warm weather, it is essential to cool your dog down as quickly as possible, as the increased blood flow to the tongue may cause your dog to bleed excessively. If your dog frequently chews on sticks and other woody material, beware as this may lead to them getting a splinter in their tongue. The best course of action in this instance would be to have a vet take a look at it. 

Signs of Poor Health

The color of your dog's tongue can be a telltale sign of something that is very wrong. Your dog's tongue should be a soft pink color when he is healthy (unless you have a Chow Chow or a Sharpei). If your dog is exhibiting a tongue that is a deep red color, it may be a sign of bacterial infection. If your dog's tongue is a very pale pink or white in color, it may mean they are experiencing low blood pressure or blood loss, or even leukemia or anemia. Regularly checking your dog's dental health, including the teeth, gums, and color of their tongue may help them immensely in the long run.

Maintaining a Healthy Tongue

Keeping your pup's tongue healthy can be done in a number of simple and easy ways. 

Brushing

Brushing your dog's teeth will not only help remove plaque and tartar build-up, it will rid the mouth of the bacteria that is so detrimental to your dog's dental health. 

Tongue-Focused Cleaning

While brushing your dogs teeth gets rid of a large amount of bad bacteria, it doesn't always get rid of the bacteria on the tongue, unless your dog specifically gets his/her tongue brushed. The easiest way to clean your dog's tongue is with the Bristly Tongue Cleaner  which is specifically designed to scrape away bacteria. 

Noticeable signs that there is less bacteria in your pup's mouth is that the odor of their mouth when they go to kiss you is less harsh. Because bacteria directly causes that stinky pup breath, and the tongue is bacteria's best friend, by using a tongue cleaner every day, you will once again welcome the affection of your best friend. 

Use the tongue cleaner with Bristly Pre-biotic toothpaste, and you'll notice fresher breath almost instantly!