As the anaerobic bacteria which cause bad breath reside within the tongue itself it is impossible to remove these bacteria completely by brushing or using a tongue scraper alone. Scraping the surface of the tongue may remove excessive VSC (a whitish film) that have surfaced to the top of of the tongue.
Although bad breath is not necessarily an oral hygiene problem, it is important to brush and floss to maintain oral health. Maintain regular professional cleanings especially if you suffer from Periodontal Disease (gum disease). Broken down diseased tissue is bacterial nutrition. It is important to know that most toothpaste contains sodium laryl sulphate which is used as a foaming agent. This is actually a detergent which dries out the mouth even more.
To effectively treat bad breath, the level of anaerobic bacteria and the amount of VSC produced needs to be reduced and or neutralized.
How to detect Bad Breath
- Lick the back of your hand. Let it dry for a few seconds and then smell. If you notice and odor, you have a breath disorder.
- Place dental floss between your back teeth and then smell the floss.
- While looking at the mirror, grab the tip of your tongue with a Kleenex and pull it out as far you can. If you see that the very back of your tongue is whitish in color, it may be a sign that you have bad breath.
- Ask the opinion of someone you can trust. Check your breath several times daily because your breath changes throughout the day.
- Professional use of the Halimeter: an instrument which measures the concentration of the V. S. C. in the mouth.
