Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Your tongue is a good breeding ground for bacteria.If you're feeling nauseous when you brush your tongue, there are some tips to follow. Studies have shown that bacteria that grow on the protein-rich surface of the tongue eventually spread to the rest of the mouth. It can contribute to or lead to heart disease, pneumonia, premature birth, male infertility, and more.

Steps

1. 1 Try this psychological tip. Squeeze the fingers of one of your hands and gently stick your nails into the palm of your hand. The gag reflex should disappear - apparently, it works because the brain is distracted by a slight pain in the arm.
2. 2 Hold your toothbrush perpendicular to your tongue, brushing from the side. If the toothbrush is inserted to its full length, it will be easier to "slip" over the overly sensitive danger zone. Such movements, on a psychological level, will nudge you to consciously think about nausea.
3. 3 When you brush your tongue, press it down at the bottom of your mouth behind your teeth. As soon as your tongue starts to tremble, stop, give it a few minutes to recharge, and try again.
4. 4 When you brush your tongue, breathe through your mouth. At the same time, relax your tongue and throat muscles as much as possible. Keep practicing until it becomes a habit.
5. 5 Avoid using the entire toothbrush to brush your tongue. There are good tongue scrapers available over the counter. Tongue scrapers or cleaners can be less invasive because they are more focused on quick cleaning versus a large, wide coverage toothbrush. You can also try flossing your tongue by taking a long enough floss and pulling it down through your tongue. This is good for people with a particularly strong gag reflex.

Tips

• Don't forget where you clean; there is no need to penetrate deep into the back of the throat, where you can touch the uvula and induce a gag reflex.
• Avoid looking at yourself in the mirror; best not to think about it!

Warnings

• If a person has a pronounced gag reflex, vomiting may begin while cleaning the tongue. If you have severe vomiting, then quit this activity and use tongue scrapers.

What do you need

• Clean toothbrush
• Tongue cleaner / scraper (optional)
• Dental floss (optional)