We don’t even have to say it - bad breath sucks! Nobody likes stinky breath - neither when they have it, nor when anybody else has it. However, it is pretty common and normal for our breath to be in a funk and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. If you are having this unpleasant experience, you might be looking for ways to deal with it. Although there are countless remedies for halitosis (the medical term for bad breath), one simple thing that most people tend to miss out on, is brushing the tongue.
Yes, you read that right. It isn’t enough to just brush your teeth because a majority of the foul odour-causing bacteria accumulate on the tongue. Specifically, at the back of the tongue. So, if you are wondering whether a tongue scraper helps fight bad breath, the answer is yes, it actually does.
How to use a tongue scraper to get fresh breath?
Here’s how to do some good ol’ tongue scraping to keep your breath fresh:
Open your mouth and stick out your tongue in front of the bathroom mirror
Set the rounded end of the tongue scraper at the back of your mouth
Be gentle. If you feel like you might gag, then start at the middle of the tongue. Go from the back of the tongue to the tip
After every tongue scrape, make sure to clean the debris using a washcloth, tissue, or running water
One or two scrapes in one area are enough; repeat until you have scraped the whole surface of the tongue
Finally, wash the tongue scraper with soap and warm water, allow it to dry, and then store it in a clean and dry area
If you don’t have a tongue scraper, that’s cool too. You can still opt for a toothbrush with tongue cleaner on the back. So, after brushing, you can turn your brush head around and start brushing the tongue with the back of your toothbrush. The Oral-B electric and manual toothbrushes come with tongue cleaners on the back, which can effectively clean the tongue and keep away bad breath.
Here are some other ways you can keep the bacteria in your mouth from accumulating on your tongue:
Quit smoking: Tobacco products are sticky and can cause a buildup of plaque in the teeth and bacteria on the tongue. Steer clear of smoking if you want your tongue to be clean and breath to smell fresh.
Stay hydrated: The key is to avoid dry mouth and increase saliva production. Saliva is your mouth’s natural defense against bacteria and has a cleansing effect on the mouth.
Have a good oral care routine: Sorry, you can’t get away with brushing just once a day - it isn’t enough to stave off bad breath. Brushing twice a day will avoid the bacteria from interacting with the leftover food particles and prevent the formation of plaque. Also, floss daily to remove any hidden plaque from between the teeth. And if you want to kill the mouth bacteria before it even gets a chance to accumulate on the back of your tongue, rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.
Chew gum: Chewing a gum can also be good for your teeth, considering you don’t chew the kind you are used to - the ones that are loaded with sugar. Chew sugarless, dental-approved gum to stimulate saliva production and keep the bacteria away from the tongue.
Bad breath can be prevented if only one knows how. Visit your dentist every six months for a check-up and maintain a good oral care routine at home every day. Use good quality dental products, such as tongue scrapers and the Oral-B electric toothbrushes to keep the bacteria away and ensure that your mouth always remains healthy.
Read more about the Bad breath home remedies that you can try to fight bad breath.
