Think of your tongue as a storm shelter for bacteria. While you’re vigorously brushing away food debris and tarter from your teeth, the bacteria that cause bad breath, gum disease, and cavities are hiding out in the crevices of your tongue. Since bacteria like warm, wet, atmospheres, your mouth is an ideal place for these “sugar bugs” to hang out and easily transfer back to your teeth and under your gums when you’re done brushing.
To get your mouth fully clean, it’s a good idea to brush you tongue every time you brush your teeth.
Other benefits of a clean tongue are improved sense of taste (think of it as cleaning your taste buds!) and improved breath.