In recent years, the use of the tongue scraper has increased in popularity, and with good reason. They’re very effective. Many people mistake the root of bad breath and assume it’s caused by eating the wrong foods, or that it lives in the teeth and gums. While this is true, the main source of bad breath comes from the back part of the tongue.

Contrary to popular belief, the biggest cause of bad breath is bacteria that lives and grows on the back of your tongue. Since there are deep grooves in your tongue (the taste buds in the back of your tongue, these are called papillae), bacteria thrive within these grooves grows and is directly responsible for the bad smells that may emanate from your mouth. Since bacteria in this kind of environment doesn’t get much oxygen, this is exactly what makes it smell bad.

While using mouthwash and brushing your teeth will both help with this, they’ll only mask the source of the issue and won’t really attack the heart of it. Scraping your tongue will gather up a good portion of these bacteria, and essentially removes them from your tongue.

Not only will the use of a tongue scraper be the most effective means or preventing bad breath, but it’ll also be the cheapest. Some people try to avoid the cost of paying for a tongue scraper by using their toothbrush, but this isn’t a wise move for the following reasons:

1. It’s very, very difficult to get a toothbrush to reach the back of your tongue. Not only can it cause your gag reflex to kick in, but it’s somewhat dangerous. Without reaching the back of your tongue, you’re not removing the strongest sources of odor.

2. Toothbrush bristles were meant for scraping your teeth, not your tongue. The tissue on your tongue is far more sensitive than the surface of your teeth, and using a toothbrush can seriously irritate it.

3) Even if you can somehow fit a toothbrush into your mouth so that it reaches the back of your tongue, a toothbrush is narrow and won’t be able to cover the whole span of your tongue from left to right.

A tongue scraper, on the other hand, is a much better option for various reasons. First of all, the thin shape of the scraper will allow you to reach the back of your tongue (the most important part) without feeling uncomfortable and making you gag. Also, a tongue scraper is much smoother than the rough bristles of a toothbrush, and much gentler on the tongue. Lastly, they’re really cheap and they last for a long time. I’ve had the same one for over two years now.

The use of a tongue scraper is absolutely recommended for anyone looking to take care of their breath. Whether you’re doing this and only this, or combining it with mouthwashes or other breath care systems, any dental professional would agree that it’s always something you should do.

For the most useful background on the tongue scraper, visit our tongue scraper guide.

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