TONGUE BIOFILM DISRUPTION BY FRICTION RIDGES (MICROBRUSH) OF FINGER, MOVEMENT OF FINGERS AND WATER SWISHING

Oral diseases are the most common non communicable diseases in the world. Good oral hygiene helps to keep good oral health. Oral health can be maintained with frequent disruption of tongue biofilm by rubbing of dorsum of tongue with friction ridges(microbrush) of index and middle fingers and oral mucosa with fingers along with water swishing after intake of each meal, snack or a drink. Friction ridges are present along the length of fingers on palmar surface. There are about 150 to 200 friction ridges in the index finger and middle finger. Friction ridges are coated with natural oils and sweat. They have high density of sensory receptors and they help in removal or disruption of tongue biofilm because they help in gripping the biofilm and rubbing movement of fingers from back to front over dorsum of tongue and rotatory movement in oral cavity, hard palate, soft palate, gums, inside of cheeks over buccal mucosa, vestibule of mouth (labial vestibule and buccal vestibule) teeth and gums. Swishing with water helps to remove the debris dead cells, viscous saliva containing mucin, bacteria, viruses, proteins and carbohydrates deposited on tongue and other areas in the oral cavity. Friction ridges help as micro brush for cleaning of tongue, oral cavity, gums and teeth to keep good oral hygiene. Fingers are helpful to clean tongue and oral cavity with water.