Cleaning the tongue to prevent and control bad breath

If you are experiencing bad breath that seems to linger and is caused by more than just what you ate for lunch, then a tongue cleaner may be an excellent addition to your oral hygiene habits.

The tongue has lots of areas for bacteria to hide and the back of the tongue is a great place for oral malodor to occur.  Small bumps, called papillae, create niches for bacteria and food particles to collect. The mouth naturally has a mucus coating that traps the bacteria and debris on the tongue.   When the tongue is not cleaned routinely, the trapped bacteria can create bad breath, and even change how you taste food.  Foods and drinks that are consumed can attach to the mucus layer and change the color of the tongue.   Managing this layer of bacteria on the tongue should be a part of your daily oral hygiene routine. After you are done brushing your teeth, using the toothbrush to clean the tongue can be an option.  If you feel you need a deeper tongue cleaning, TePe has a tongue scraper to gently, but thoroughly remove the odor-causing bacteria. 

 Reaching the back of the tongue isn't always easy and can trigger a gag reflex, especially in the morning.  The design of TePe Tongue Cleaner™ corresponds to the natural shape of the tongue, which reduces the gag reflex and makes it easier to reach far back in the mouth. The three, slightly raised cleaning blades to give a triple-effect, meaning that bacteria is removed in one stroke. The tongue cleaner is dishwasher safe.

If you have not been routinely cleaning your tongue, it may take a few passes of the tongue cleaner to remove the layers of bacteria.  Be sure not to press too hard and if your tongue becomes tender, be sure to let it recover and then start your tongue cleaning again. 

Tongue cleaning in addition to effectively cleaning the teeth- including the spaces between the teeth- can help manage bad breath caused by bacteria.  Visit your dentist for regular check-ups of your oral hygiene. Your dental team can recommend the best way to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy including what TePe products can help you remove plaque build-up.