Southeast Dental - Dentist in Markham, ON

Address : 70 Karachi Dr, Markham ON L3S 0B5
  Call Us : 905-471-2002

To Our Patients -
We're Open Now

On behalf of the entire team at Southeast Dental we sincerely hope that you and your family are in good health. We are happy to inform you that we are now able to provide dental care once again.

While many things have changed over the last few months, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your health and safety. Our office has always followed strict infection control standards and in order to keep us all protected during this pandemic and in the future, we have updated our protocols. When we see you at your next appointment, things will be a little different but rest assured, it’s all in the best interest of our staff, patients and families. Click here to see how your next visit will look.

We look forward to seeing you again soon. Please call or text us at 905-471-2002 or email us at info@southeastdental.ca to book your next appointment.

Read Our Safety Protocols »

The Truth About Tongues

When discussing dental health topics, we often focus on teeth and even the gums – but what about the tongue? Believe it or not, your tongue is actually quite interesting and important.

Here are some fast facts about our tongues:

  • The average tongue is 10 centimetres long, from the tip to the back of the throat.
  • Tastebuds are not visible to the eye, and the small bumps we see are actually called papillae.
  • Though it’s often called the strongest muscle in the body, the tongue is actually made up of 8 different muscles (and, for the record, the strongest muscle in the body belongs to the jaw).
  • The human tongue imprint can be as unique as a person’s fingerprint, due to the array of taste buds.
  • Every tongue has between 3,000 to 10,000 taste buds, and as we age we lose the amount of working taste buds.

Now that you know a bit more about your tongue, let’s discuss how to care for it.

There’s a good chance that you’re ignoring your tongue when it comes to your dental care, but it’s important to keep them clean: not only for health reasons, but also to help deter bad breath. Food and bacteria can leave a film on the tongue that can usually be removed by regular cleaning. This can be done by gently brushing with your toothbrush each morning and night, or using a tongue scraper which is a small plastic tool that you glide along the length of the tongue to scrape off the film.

Aesthetically, a healthy tongue is normally pink in colour, with visible bumps (the papillae, as we mentioned above). When you notice a strange discoloration, pain, or larger bumps, you should see your dentist if it persists longer than a few days. If the tongue ever suddenly looks smoother than usual, it may mean that you’re missing out on essential nutrients – be sure to load up on those vegetables!

Water is also an important part of keeping your tongue clean and healthy, and drinking water throughout the day can help keep a film from forming on its surface.

As always, regular check-ups with your team at Southeast Dental can ensure that your tongue is healthy, along with the rest of your mouth – book your appointment today via our online form, or by phone at 905-471-2002.

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