If you’ve ever had morning breath that lasts well beyond noon, you likely know how distressing it can be... trying to talk without getting too near anyone, or avoiding breathing directly towards anyone. Perhaps even worse is not knowing you’ve got it ‘till it’s too late…

Bad breath (halitosis) can arise from poor oral hygiene, faulty dental work, abscesses, sinus or other infections, and gum disease. Food odors can also contribute. Though the most common reason for bad breath is bacteria, what may surprise you, is the source: it’s not the bacteria around your teeth or under your gums... it’s actually the bacteria on the surface of your tongue!

These tongue bacteria end up metabolizing food debris, old cells, and the mucous that drips down from the back of our nose (sorry for being gross, folks!). Because most of these bacteria are anaerobic (i.e., they don’t require oxygen), they produce particularly foul-smelling gas byproducts.

Certain health conditions can also contribute to telltale breath odors, such as the acetone-smell typical of uncontrolled diabetes. In these cases, though, there will usually be other symptoms present that are indicative of the primary problem.

So, along with regular brushing and flossing, it’s important to also keep your tongue clean. In Ayurveda, the ancient healing tradition of India, tongue cleaning is part of the daily hygiene regimen to remove toxic wastes, called ‘Ama.’ To clean your tongue, you can use either your toothbrush or a device designed specifically for this purpose, called a tongue scraper.

For those in-between times when you need some quick relief for bad breath, consider our Peppermint Breath Spray. This great tasting, all-natural spray contains Peppermint essential oil for a refreshing, “peppy” zing, and Chlorophyll for its natural deodorizing and cleansing properties. It works when you most need it to!