What the Experts Are Saying
"When saliva collects in the mouth - particularly in depressions at the back of the tongue - and is digested by oral bacteria, powerful odors can result. -- Time Life, The Medical Advisor, Bad Breath,
Causes
"Tongue-cleaning is very important in Ayurveda, The dirt which is collected at the root of the tongue creates obstructions in respiration and produces a foul smell; hence one should scrape one's tongue (from Caraka Samhita, Sutrasthana, V, 75)… This process not only cleans the tongue, but also activates the salivary glands and cleans and revitalizes the throat. It saves you from throat and mouth infections. This practice is highly recommended for those who complain of a frequent bad throat." -- Dr. Vinod Verma, Ayurveda A Way of Life
"Good oral hygiene will take care of most bad breath… Mouthwashes, mints, and chewing gum are only temporary cover-ups for bad breath." -- Time Life, The Medical Advisor, Bad Breath, Treatment
"The usual cause of bad breath is bacteria growing on the tongue, and sometimes around the gum lines, too. There are a couple of simple ways to take care of the problem. First, try a tongue scraper. This is a metal instrument that you use to scrape your tongue once or twice a day, cleaning off the bacteria… I wouldn't pay much attention to the claims made about mouthwashes like Scope or Listerine. These germicidal formulas may help, but they often don't penetrate into the crevices of the tongue." -- Dr. Andrew Weil, www.drweil.com, Q & A Help for Halitosis?
"Cleaning the tongue, which many people neglect, is very important… A tongue blade, a device used in the Middle East and India to scrape the tongue, may be helpful."- - Time Life, The Medical Advisor, Bad Breath, Treatment
"Once I was traveling in India and wanted to buy some souvenirs for my family and friends. I visited the local pharmacy and discovered a utensil designed to scrape the moss from the tongue. Indian people scrape the moss from their tongues so that they can eliminate accumulated waste and better appreciate the taste of their own cuisine! I was truly impressed. I bought many tongue scrapers that day and sent them to friends with the encouragement to scrape their tongues." -- Ohasi, Reading the Body: Ohasi's Book of Oriental Diagnosis
