By now, you hopefully know that you should be brushing your teeth twice a day, but you might not know about the importance of brushing your tongue. The surface of your tongue is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria that can cause bad breath. But left unattended it can also lead to other dental conditions like periodontal disease and cavities. You can greatly reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth simply by brushing your tongue whenever you brush your teeth.
How to Brush Your Tongue
All you need to do to brush your tongue is take a few seconds to go over it from front to back and left to right with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You don’t want to brush too hard, but even a few seconds of brushing will remove the bacteria on your tongue and give you a cleaner mouth. Be careful to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and do not press too hard or you will risk damaging the surface of your tongue. Brushing your tongue prevents or reduces the occurrence of bad breath.
When to Call the Dentist
If you find you still have frequent bad breath after incorporating this practice into your daily oral care routine, it might be caused by another condition. You may have a cavity or even a sinus infection. Please don’t hesitate to schedule an exam or call us with your questions about bad breath and tongue brushing. As always, you can contact a North Conway, NH dentist at Eastern Slope Dental if you have any questions about brushing your tongue or otherwise taking care of your mouth. Dr. Allan Mulandi and his North Conway dental team will be happy to address any questions or concerns that you might have.
