Using a tongue scraper or brush can cure bad breath.

Most people overlook cleaning their tongue but starting to do so on a regular basis can be the single most beneficial treatment for bad breath (halitosis) that a person can institute.

Remember the breath tests we suggested you perform at the beginning of this topic? They revealed that the smell of the anterior portion of a person's tongue is usually less offensive than the smell found emanating from the posterior part.

The reason for this is related to the fact that the anterior portion of the tongue is somewhat self-cleansing and therefore less likely to harbor large numbers of odor producing bacteria. Many tongue functions require that the anterior portion of the tongue touches firmly against the hard palate. This friction produces a cleansing action, therefore preventing any significant bacterial accumulation.

The posterior portion of the tongue, in comparison, rubs up against the soft palate. And these contacts are relatively gentle.

This soft palate contact does not provide enough friction to produce any significant cleansing. And for this reason it is typically the posterior aspect of the tongue that is found to harbor the bacteria that cause a person's breath problems. Because of this, the posterior tongue is the most important area to clean.

How should your tongue be cleaned?

There are various techniques that you can use to clean the posterior portion of your tongue. Each of these methods, however, has the same goal, to scrape away the bacteria and debris that have accumulated on your tongue's surface.

No matter which method of tongue cleaning you choose to use, you should try to clean as far back on your tongue as possible. Don't be surprised if you find you have an active gag reflex. Gagging is a natural reaction but with time the intensity of this reflex should diminish.

How to clean your tongue using a toothbrush or a tongue brush.

Your toothbrush or a specialized tongue brush can be used to clean your tongue. To do so, start as far back as possible and then make brush strokes outward, toward the front of your mouth. You need to use some pressure but of course not enough to cause irritation to your tongue.

As a way of improving the effectiveness of your tongue brushing efforts, you can use a toothpaste that provides one or both of the benefits listed below. Since the ingredients that provide these benefits are often the same ones included in the formulations of mouthwashes, we have placed a more detailed discussion about these agents on our mouthwash page.

Toothpastes that neutralize volatile sulfur compounds.

In most cases it is the malodorous volatile sulfur compounds (VSC's) produced by anaerobic bacteria that are the actual source of a person's bad breath. Using a toothpaste that contains VSC neutralizing agents such as chlorine dioxide or zinc can help to alleviate breath problems.

Toothpastes which have antibacterial properties.

If the toothpaste you are using contains antibacterial agents such as chlorine dioxide or cetylpyridinium chloride, your tongue brushing efforts will both dislodge and kill odor-causing bacteria.

How to clean your tongue using a tongue scraper.

While cleaning your tongue with a brush can be satisfactory, many people find that scraping their tongue with a tongue scraper is more effective. As an added benefit, some people find that they have less tendency to gag when using a tongue scraper as opposed to a brush.

It's easy to experiment with tongue scraping. To do so, pick out a spoon (smaller is usually better than larger), invert it, and then go ahead and give tongue scraping a try. Place the spoon on the posterior portion of your tongue and then draw it forward. Be thorough but also gentle. Don't scrape so hard or vigorously that you irritate your tongue.

If tongue scraping seems to be an acceptable technique for you then you might investigate those products that have been specifically designed as tongue scrapers. You will probably find that they are more effective at cleaning than your spoon is.