It’s often easy to forget that our tongue needs a lot of love and attention, too! Although your tongue may not be at risk of problems like cavities or plaque, it can become filled with lots of odor-causing bacteria. Fungal infections are also bound to happen when your tongue doesn’t receive the daily care and attention it needs. Here are some tips to help you keep your tongue clean and problem-free every day.
1. Practice Regular Brushing
Brushing your tongue regularly is a great way to get started with daily tongue care. However, this doesn’t mean you should start rubbing your regular toothbrush’s bristles all over your tongue. Regular toothbrushes aren’t designed to clean the papillae (tiny bumps on your tongue that help you taste and feel texture), and their bristles may be filled with nasty bacteria.
Instead, the proper way to brush your tongue is with a good tongue brush. You can also use regular toothbrushes with special tongue cleaning attachments on the back. To properly brush your tongue, place the tongue brush as far back on the tongue as you can. After that, brush in circular motions towards the front of your tongue to eliminate odor-causing bacteria. Once you’re done, just brush with water and enjoy better breath! You can also dab a bit of toothpaste on your tongue cleaner to ensure better results. This will help neutralize any bacteria and reduce your chances of getting harmful infections.
2. Clean with a Tongue Scraper
A tongue scraper is another great tool you can use for daily tongue cleaning. This oral hygiene tool is designed to gently scrape bacteria from wide surfaces of the tongue and reduce halitosis. All you need to do is simply place the scraper as far back on the tongue as you can, then gently swipe down to scrape away bacteria. Once you’re done, simply rinse with warm water to swish out any lingering bacteria. Avoid placing too much pressure on your tongue while doing this, though. Otherwise, your tongue might end up with some injury and discomfort. It’s also important to rinse the scraper clean after every use and replace it every few months.
3. Rinse Regularly
Remember to rinse thoroughly with water after brushing or scraping your tongue to get rid of any lingering mouth bacteria. You can also use mouthwash to ensure that you don’t suffer any problems with bad breath at work or school. Stick to non-alcoholic mouthwash, though. Mouthwash that’s too abrasive eliminates the “good bacteria” that keeps more harmful mouth bacteria in check. You might also want to avoid using mouthwash more than once or twice a day since rinsing too much can dry out the mouth and cause bad breath.
Salted water is a good mouthwash alternative that you can also rely on for better breath. Simply mix warm water with a teaspoon of salt to eliminate nasty bacteria from your tongue. You can rinse up to six times a day with it to keep stubborn mouth bacteria in check.
4. Stay Hydrated
Bacteria can easily wreak havoc in dry environments. When we don’t drink stay properly hydrated every day, harmful bacteria stuck to our teeth, gums, and tongue can cause all kinds of problems, including bad breath! The next time you feel a little parched, get a cool glass of water instead of energy drinks or sugary iced beverages. Your tongue (and stomach) will really thank you for it.
Another beverage you can add to your daily snacks and meals is green tea. Unlike coffee, soda, or sugary drinks, green tea doesn’t cause dry mouth or strengthen plaque. One glass of green tea can also eliminate harmful odor-causing bacteria and reduce your chances of suffering embarrassing bad breath. Why not try it out?
5. Check on Your Tongue Daily
Fungal infections are another health problem you need to watch out for. To avoid dealing with oral thrush and other similar problems in the future, check on the color of your tongue when you can. If your tongue is healthy, it should have a light pink color and only minimal white coating. But if the surface of your tongue is full of white coating that can’t be brushed off, it could be a definitive sign of infection. You might also want to visit the doctor if your tongue is bright red, as this could be a sign of more serious health problems. If you notice something amiss about your tongue color, consult your nearest doctor as soon as you can.
Proper tongue cleaning, tooth brushing, and flossing are all essential steps you can take to get rid of nasty onion breath. However, bacteria stuck to corners where your toothbrush can't reach may cause trouble before you know it. Enhancing your daily oral hygiene routine with a great dental scaler will eliminate sneaky plaque, food debris, and odor-causing bacteria before they get the chance to cause trouble. Order yours from our online store now!