Eliminate Bad Breath Using a Tongue Scraper

Tongue scraping, you say? It sounds rather gross and uncomfortable, but it's one of the easiest and most effective ways to increase your oral hygiene. A well-kept secret to fresher breath, one might say. If you've never tried tongue scraping, here's your introduction to it. Once you start, don't be surprised if it becomes an indispensable part of your morning routine.

Open your mouth and look in the mirror. Stick out your tongue. See any white stuff there? Any gooey gunk attached to your tongue. That stuff breeds bacteria and bacteria is one of the biggest causes of bad breath. You can use mouthwash and mints all you want, but removing the stuff is the quickest way to fresher breath.

So how do you remove it? There are several options. Many people brush their tongue using their toothbrush. However, this method gets all your tongue gunk stuck in your toothbrush, which has an ick factor of its own. You can also purchase plastic tongue scrapers at the local drug store, or almost anywhere that sells oral hygiene products. These are usually pretty effective.

However, the cheapest and easiest way is to just use a spoon. Almost any metal spoon will do, as long as it will fit in your mouth. One of the small, dainty dessert spoons usually works best, but it's a personal preference. Select one that suits you.

Now, open your mouth and stick out your tongue as far as it will go. Perhaps the biggest turn-off of tongue scraping is activating the gag reflex when you touch the back of the tongue. Gag me with a spoon, but no one wants to gag on a spoon. The gagging can largely be avoided by sticking out your tongue as far as it will possibly go. This way, you avoid touching the back of your throat and can scrape your tongue without gagging.

If you are using a spoon, hold it upside down and use the front edge to scrape your tongue. This is easier if you do it in front of a mirror and sink. That way, you can easily see what you are doing and wash away the gunk in the sink.

If you scrape your tongue twice a day or after every time you brush your teeth, you'll notice a cleaner feeling in your mouth. Others will probably notice your fresher breath too. Tongue scraping is an easy and healthful addition to your daily oral hygiene routine.