The secret to getting rid of bad breath!

You might have noticed that you still have bad breath after brushing and flossing. In fact, some people ask their dentist why they suffer bad breath. The problem isn’t necessarily in the way you brush, it might be because you aren’t cleaning your tongue. There are a few things you should know about your tongue and why it’s important to keep it clean.

Your tongue is important

Your tongue is a group of muscles and makes it possible for you to eat and talk. Without it, you couldn’t taste all the wonderful foods you eat. In fact, without a tongue, you would have a hard time breaking food down in your mouth and the chances of choking rises. The tongue even helps your teeth stay in position and not shift inwards! While the tongue is functionally so valuable, it plays a role in bad breath.

Why cleaning your tongue can help with bad breath

Just like on your teeth, bacteria builds up on your tongue, hardening into tartar and plaque if not properly removed. The tiny bumps on your tongue, called papillae, collect bacteria and food particles and is then covered with a thin layer of mucus. All of these things trapped on your tongue is what causes bad breath and discoloration of the tongue.

Cleaning the toungue

There are two ways in which you can clean your tongue: Scraping and brushing. Use your toothbrush to gently scrub your tongue from the back to the tip. This works best while you are brushing your teeth. Just make sure you rinse well after. But the most effective way to clean your tongue is with a tongue scraper, which you can find at your local pharmacy.

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