Tongue Scrapers Fight Halitosis

When it comes to fighting bad breath, tongue scrapers were found to be slightly better than tongue brushing.¹ This is according to a review by the Cochrane Collaboration.¹

Tongue scrapers, like toothbrushes, work by dislodging food, cells, and bacteria trapped on your tongue.² Food that collects and is not removed from between teeth, on the tongue, and around the gums can decompose.² This causes an unpleasant odor.²

If you continue to have bad breath, keep a written log of the foods you eat.² Make a list of medications you take, too.² Some medications may cause mouth odors.² Let your dentist know if you've had any surgery or illness since your last appointment.²

Bad breath can be caused a number of diseases.² These include chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, and liver or kidney problems.² So if your bad breath persists, don't keep relying on your tongue scraper or toothbrush.² Talk with your dentist and family doctor.²

^{1 "}Tongue Scraping for Treating Halitosis." T.L. Outhouse et al. The Cochrane Collaboration. April 19, 2006, no. 4, http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab005519.html. Accessed 2009.

^{2 "}Oral Health Topics A-Z: Bad Breath (Halitosis)." American Dental Association.
www.ada.org/public/topics/bad_breath_faq.asp. Accessed 2009.