You may brush and floss your teeth twice a day, but did you know that cleaning your tongue is as important? Without proper cleaning, bacteria builds up which causes that lingering halitosis, or bad breath to occur. Here’s what to do.
Brushing techniques.
After giving your teeth and gums a good brushing, it’s time to focus on your tongue. The tongue carries tiny bacteria and food particles under a thin layer of mucus which causes the odor to build up. To remove this, add a small dab of toothpaste on the bristles of your toothbrush and gently brush the back of the tongue and work your way to the front of the mouth. Once thoroughly cleaned, finish off by rinsing with water.
Using a tongue scraper.
For a more thorough cleaning, a tongue scraper is a great little tool made of a soft, flexible plastic material that scrapes off any thin layer of mucus from the tongue. Once you finish peeling off debris off your tongue, rinse off with water, and your mouth will feel orally cleaned.
How often should I clean my tongue?
We highly recommend cleaning your tongue each time you brush and floss your teeth. Once in the morning and once in the evening before you sleep should be ideal. However, if you notice a foul taste in your mouth in the middle of the day, try cleaning your tongue with mouthwash rinse to kill bacteria and keep your breath smelling fresh.
Still having bad breath?
Cleaning your tongue will make the bad breath go away, but if it’s still an issue then the problem can be caused by tooth decay, infections in your mouth or something even more severe and will need to consult with a dentist right away!