Many people who are concerned over their bad breath have been told that it's a good idea to start brushing their tongue as often as they brush their teeth.  However, there are some basics of tongue brushing that you should be aware of before you start, to be sure that you're doing it correctly and are really addressing your bad breath properly.

The basics of tongue brushing start with the instrument that you use.  Your usual toothbrush is just fine, although there are many instruments on the market that are designed for tongue brushing specifically. Just be sure you're not using something too harsh as you can damage your tongue and your taste buds by using anything that's too abrasive.

Another step in the basics of tongue brushing includes what you're brushing. Go as far back on the tongue as you can; this might make you gag a bit, but there are many bad breathing causing germs on the back of your tongue.  Make sure you get the sides of your tongue too.

Be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly after brushing, including after brushing your tongue.  Not rinsing after brushing your teeth or your tongue is like soaping up your dishes and then not rinsing them off. There's still a lot of residue that needs to be washed away.  Rinsing thoroughly with water is just part of the basics of tongue brushing; it does little good to brush all those food particles from your tongue if you then just let them sit there.

Other basics of tongue brushing include being aware of how often you do this; it really should be done each time you brush your teeth, or at least once per day.  Usually you don't need to overdo it with the scrubbing. Just a good couple of passes with your toothbrush or tongue scraper is enough.

And remember to be mindful of your oral hygiene overall. Floss every day, and avoid highly acidic foods and drinks such as pop or orange juice which just wear away at your tooth enamel. Rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash or rinse regularly.  It does no good to cover the basics of tongue brushing if you're ignoring your mouth's health in other areas!  But if you're conscientious about brushing, flossing, rinsing, and tongue brushing, you're going to accomplish a lot when it comes to controlling and eliminating bad breath odors.

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