Want to control bad breath? Don't ignore the tongue.
All those bumps and grooves on your tongue are a haven for bacteria and could be contributing to your bad breath because of the gases they give off, says Dr. Matthew Messina, a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. It's important to take care of the tongue in addition to regular brushing and flossing.
According to Dr. Messina, "Scraping the tongue can really reduce the number of those bacteria and can help a number of people with bad breath."
But what's the best way to tackle the tongue?
But Dr. Messina said a toothbrush can work just as well as long as you remember to brush the tongue's middle and back, where microbe populations can be especially high.
While brushing the tongue doesn't have a long-lasting effect on bad breath, it is an important step in keeping your entire mouth healthy.
The ADA notes that bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.
