Healthy Obsession: The Dental Hygiene Tool You Didn’t Even Know You Needed

Let’s face it: Bad breath stinks. Between a toothbrush, mouthwash, and dental floss, you’ve got almost everything you need to combat it. The one secret weapon you’re missing? A tongue scraper.

Bacteria, a culprit of both halitosis and tooth decay, isn’t just hiding below your gums—it can build up in every nook and cranny of the mouth, including the tongue. In fact, experts say that tongue bacteria accounts for 80 to 90 percent of all cases of stinky breath. Yuck!

Tongue scraping gently and effectively removes bacteria, along with food debris, fungi, and dead cells. Do it twice a day, before brushing. Here’s how:

1. Reach the scraper as far back as possible (not too far as it may induce gagging!)
2. Gently pull the scraper from back to front, scraping the surface of the tongue, five to 10 times.
3. Between each pass, rinse the scraper under hot water.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to cover the entire tongue, including the center and sides.

Here’s something else to smile about: At Thrive Market, Dr. Tung’s Stainless Steel Tongue Cleaner is over 25 percent off—and other oral care products are up to 50 percent off regular prices!

Photo credit: Alicia Cho