Tongue scrapers may help reduce bad breath

Oct 16 (HealthCentersOnline) - The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) reported that tongue scrapers can help to reduce some forms of bad breath, but cannot cure the problem.

Bad breath, or halitosis, describes any unpleasant odor on the breath, regardless of where it originates. A specific type of bad breath, called oral malodor, refers to unpleasant odors that originate in the mouth. Tongue scrapers help reduce this type of bad breath.

"A common reason for bad breath is postnasal drip, which coats the back area of the tongue with bacteria-rich mucus," said Dr. June Lee, spokesperson for the AGD. "A tongue scraper is often effective in relieving oral malodor caused by sinus drainage."

A review of available literature by the AGD revealed that scraping the middle and back of the tongue can significantly reduce oral malodor, but only for a short time. However, the AGD encourages the use of tongue scrapers despite their short-term effectiveness. "Cleaning the tongue is quickly and easily accomplished," said Dr. Lee. "Everyone from children to elders should be able to incorporate this technique into their oral care regimen."