Tricks for Getting Rid of Tongue Bacteria

Professor at New York University College of Dentistry, Andrew Spielman, DMD, Ph.D., says that bacteria causes 90 percent of bad breath or halitosis. The bacteria resides on the tongue and in the process of breaking down food releases unpleasant odors. Another sign of an abundance of tongue bacteria is a condition known as white tongue. Proper oral hygiene keeps tongue bacteria under control.

Scraper

• A clear, sticky film of bacteria and sugars, known as plaque, constantly forms on the inside of your mouth. This includes your tongue, especially the back of the tongue. To decrease the number of bacteria in your mouth and get rid of bad breath, clean your tongue with a tongue scraper twice a day. You can also use the edge of a spoon or a toothbrush to clean your tongue.

Gum

• Bacteria thrives in a dry mouth. Saliva not only keeps the mouth moist but it contains antiseptics and enzymes that kill bacteria. To increase your saliva production, chew gum. However, some types of gum work better than others. Avoid sugar gums since they are bad for your teeth. Instead, choose a chewing gum that contains xylitol, a sugar substitute. The sweetener helps prevent bacteria from multiplying as well as stimulates salvation. Chewing cinnamon flavor gum versus other flavors also help decrease mouth bacteria.

Water

• Reduce the number of bacteria on your tongue by drinking water. When you become dehydrated, your mouth becomes dry and bacteria flourish. Regularly drinking water throughout the day and keeping yourself hydrated keeps your mouth moist and bacteria to a minimum.

Mouthwash

• Using mouthwash once a day will kill bacteria on your tongue, but read the ingredients on the bottle before purchasing. Many mouthwashes rely on alcohol as their active ingredient. However, alcohol isn’t the best bacteria-killing ingredient. Use mouth rinses that contain zinc chloride, which is more-effective at killing bacteria. These mouth rinses will be an intense green or blue color.

Doctor

• If the bacteria on your tongue persists, causing bad breath or white tongue, consult a dentist or a doctor. While bad breath and white tongue can be symptoms of an overabundance of bacteria in your mouth, they can also be symptoms of more serious conditions. Chronic bad breath could be a sign of infection, kidney failure or liver failure while white tongue could be a symptom of syphilis, the autoimmune disorder oral lichen planus or leukoplakis.