Bad Breath and the Tongue

When it comes to prevention, the bad breath/tongue relationship is not to be underestimated. One way of determining if you suffer from bad breath involves inspecting your tongue.



People with bad breath have a tongue coating that’s yellowish or white. However, just having this tongue coating does not indicate exactly how strong the bad odor could be.

Bad breath can usually be traced to poor oral hygiene. This allows bacteria to easily build up, not only on the tongue but in between the teeth and gums as well. As more bacteria accumulate, the worse your breath can smell.

Experiencing bad breath tongue coating can bring a lot of discomfort. Aside from the unpleasant mouth odor that results, it is also not pleasant to look at. Surprisingly, this tongue coating can also keep you from tasting your food fully.

Bad breath tongue coating will mix with the food you eat, and in essence, as gross as it may sound, you will be tasting your own bad breath. Of course, this isn’t just a problem for you – it can affect the people you interact with. The insecurity caused by bad breath isn’t to be taken lightly – ultimately, it may lower someone’s self-esteem. That is one of the most significant consequences of bad breath.

A tongue coating can be an indicator of bad breath – so you need to get rid of it ASAP. Brushing can help but if the coating is too thick, you may need another way of removing it. A tongue scraper is a good solution, but remember if the coating is thick, scraping may need to take place over several days. You’ll need to do it regularly until you have removed everything.

You can pick up a tongue scraper at any pharmacy, for just a few dollars.

When scraping, make sure to clean both the front and the back of the tongue because bacteria propagate in these places. Go as far back as you can, but do it very slowly to avoid gagging. Make sure not to press too hard because you might hurt yourself with too much pressure.

Want some more advice on cleaning your tongue? Check out this video:

Taking care of the bad breath tongue coating will not solve all your problems with bad breath, but it will definitely help. Regular brushing and flossing would be very helpful as well as keeping away from unhealthy habits such as smoking. If your bad breath is due to other medical conditions, you should seek help from professionals.