Daily Fit 5/8/19: Ultimate Bad Breath Fix

Health Tip of the Day: If you suffer from bad breath, consider adding tongue scraping to your daily dental care regimen. Scraping your tongue is essential for good breath and overall dental hygiene.

What Science Says: Almost half of our oral bacteria live on our tongues. When we don’t get rid of this bacteria, plaque accumulates. Having too much plaque on your tongue can lead to halitosis (chronic bad breath), poor digestion and even cardiovascular disease. Researchers have found that brushing and flossing alone aren’t as effective at removing toxins and bacteria from the tongue as using a tongue scraper. In a study conducted by the United States National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, researchers found that those who followed a daily tongue scraping regimen reduced the percentage of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) — the bacteria responsible for bad breath and plaque buildup on your tongue — by 75 percent within two weeks. Bushing alone, on the other hand, reduced VSCs by only 45 percent during the same time frame. [Swirled]

How To Do It: Although some toothbrushes come equipped with a makeshift “tongue scraper” on the back of them, to truly scrape your tongue effectively you’re better off investing in an actual tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers are relatively inexpensive and you can find them in the oral hygiene section of your local store or online. You should make a habit of scraping your tongue every morning, it’ll only take a few minutes to complete — simply stand in front of the mirror, hold the two ends of your tongue scraper with both hands, stick out your tongue and place your tongue scraper on the very back of it. With firm yet gentle pressure, scrape the surface of your tongue with a long stroke. Rinse the scraper and repeat the process until your tongue feels clean and free of coating. It usually takes five to 10 strokes. Pro tip: Stainless steel tongue scrapers are the most effective and easiest to clean. [Mindbodygreen]

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