Of course, your teeth and gums are not the only things in your mouth that can benefit from inclusion in your daily oral hygiene regimen. Your tongue has a lot of rough surfaces can sometimes harbor bacteria. This can even lead to bad breath issues and cause plaque to form easier in your mouth.
After you have finished brushing your teeth, you can give your tongue a light brushing. Try to brush around the sides of the tongue and use a gentle circular motion to brush the rough surface of the taste buds. This will help clean your tongue of some bacteria and refresh your mouth.
If you find brushing your tongue to be awkward, you could try a tongue scraper. They usually have a small plastic handle with a mildly sharp edge on one end. When using a tongue scraper, you should work from front to back making multiple overlapping sweeps. If you notice a buildup of material on the blade edge, you should rinse it off before making the next sweep.
There is no definitive research that finds tongue scrapers any more effective than a soft bristled toothbrush. It really is just a matter of personal preference.
After you are done brushing or scraping you can then rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash to help kill any lingering bacteria and refresh your breath.
If you find that you still have chronic bad breath, despite regular brushing, flossing and tongue cleaning, you should call us at 212-265-8291 to schedule an appointment to identify the source of the problem.