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Your teeth and gums are not the only things in your mouth that can benefit routine cleaning. There are many rough surfaces and microscopic areas where bacteria can loom. Cleaning your tongue as part of your oral hygiene routine will help decrease the total amount of bacteria in your mouth, while also helping to freshen your breath.

Once you’re done brushing your teeth, you can give your tongue a light brushing. Use a gentle circular motion to brush the rough surface of the taste buds. Be sure to also clean the sides of your tongue.

Some people will forego using the toothbrush in favor of a tongue scraper. Most designs 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.

After you are done brushing or scraping you can further refresh your breath and kill residual bacteria by rinsing your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash.

If you find that you still have chronic bad breath, despite regular brushing, flossing and tongue cleaning, you should call Thomas Karagianis at (630) 655-0724 to schedule an appointment to identify the source of the problem.