How to Prevent Bad Breath
Bad breath can be troublesome and sometimes mints just aren’t effective enough. Have you tried thoroughly cleaning your tongue? Your tongue holds the most bacteria which adds to bad breath and even tooth decay. Yuck! There are other ways to manage bad breath but follow these tips on tongue cleaning and you’ll notice a difference.
Brush well.
After or before tooth brushing, use you toothbrush to brush your tongue. Add toothpaste to your brush and begin brushing with slight pressure from the back to the front. This motion helps to move the bacteria forward. Rinse with water and then mouthwash. A lot of mouthwash products contain bacteria-fighting ingredients that help with bad breath. Use them.
Scrape it.
Tongue scrapers are better designed to efficiently clean your tongue. They are made of plastic and remove bacteria in layers. Similar to brushing, hold the scraper firmly, start at the back and with slight pressure move toward the front in one motion. This helps collect the most bacteria. Clean the scraper with warm water and repeat. Two or three scrapes should be enough. Then rinse with water followed by bacteria-fighting mouthwash.
A cleaner tongue is definitely helpful for fresher breath. But, if you notice your breath is not improving, the issue may be greater. Contact us for an examination and consultation. Call (781) 665-1552 or request an appointment online.