Can tongue coating cause bad breath even after brushing?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have a little odor even after brushing the whole day. After flossing, I feel better, but no matter what I do, the tongue coating remains, and the odor keeps coming from the tongue. How should I clean that? I need a little help.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern.

Bad breath can also come from local factors in the mouth, such as:

Tartar deposition, which should be removed regularly at a dental clinic.
Cavities that might be in places not obvious to you, even if you do not feel pain.
Gum pockets, which are areas deeper than normal in the gums that are difficult to clean, caused by prolonged gum inflammation that was not treated. These pockets require deep cleaning at a dental clinic.
A white coating on the tongue; this can be more prominent in smokers.

Other non-dental causes:

Problems related to the ear, nose, and throat; these require an ENT (ear, nose, throat) physician consultation.
Gastric problems, which you already mentioned.
Dietary habits, such as frequent consumption of foods containing a lot of garlic or onion, which can make breath unpleasant.

Tongue brushing can be done with an ordinary toothbrush in one direction only. Start from the back of the tongue and move toward the tip; three to four strokes during each teeth-brushing session are enough.

It is better to use tongue-cleaning tools (available at pharmacies) or a toothbrush with an irregular head designed for this purpose. Whatever you use, use it in the same way described above.

If you do not notice further improvement in your breath, kindly visit your dentist for a teeth and gums examination.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.