Keep Your Breath Fresh with these Tongue Cleaning Tips
An oral hygiene routine is not complete if you skip cleaning your tongue. Like the teeth and gums, our tongue is also exposed to substances that are likely targets for bacteria. When bacteria invade your tongue, this can lead to bad breath or damages to your teeth.
Our tongue has curves and crevices where bacteria like to breed. Unfortunately, rinsing with water or mouthwash won’t be enough due to the sticky nature of the bacteria. For this, you can use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper.
Remember though that more than the tool itself, it’s the way you’re doing the cleaning that’s crucial.
Proper Tongue Cleaning Tips:
- Don’t overdo it. Use gentle hands to prevent breaking the skin of your tongue.
- Brush back and forth and side to side.
- Be careful so as not to deposit debris you have already removed back into your tongue.
- Pay attention to the center of the tongue where bacteria most likely hide.
- Afterward, rinse your mouth with water.
Consider brushing your tongue as a staple part to your daily oral care routine. Keeping your tongue clean will also help keep your breath fresh. If you feel that foul smelling breath continues to persist, talk to your dentist for further advice.
What Should You Do if Your Tongue Hurts After Brushing?
Give it a rest so it can heal itself. Please take note that the skin on your tongue is very delicate. You’ll want to be gentle when brushing. If the pain or discomfort still lingers, be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist so they can look into your tongue.