The White Tongue, Bad Breath Conundrum

Some of these are obvious, but some are not so obvious. Here are five reasons your breath might need a tune-up:

1. Poor oral health: Not having a good oral care regimen means you have food particles on and in between the teeth. Bacteria thrives in this kind of environment, causing issues like bad breath.
2. Tobacco: Yet another reason to quit smoking, as if the risk of lung cancer was not already enough.
3. Dry mouth: A lack of saliva inhibits your mouth's ability to remove excess food particles. Bad breath can result from those left behind particles.
4. Food: The most common cause occurs from the usual suspects like onions and garlic.
5. Medical conditions: Certain conditions like sinusitis or a post-nasal drip can leave a film on the tongue that might cause bad breath.
   

White tongue is a result of overgrown and swollen papillae on the tongue's surface. Bacteria and dead cells that lodge between the papillae cause the white coating. Numerous causes encourage white tongue, including alcohol and tobacco use, fever, dry mouth and mouth breathing, dehydration and poor oral care. Many causes overlap with the causes of bad breath, including bacteria in the mouth, so it is easy to see how the conditions intersect.

When you notice a white tongue, schedule a check-up with your dentist to have him properly assess the state of your oral health and provide targeted guidance based on your dental health history. Some treatments directly address some of the more common causes, such as eliminating alcohol and tobacco use and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated. Also be sure to brush twice a day with toothpaste, such as Colgate® Max Fresh Toothpaste to keep your breath fresh and clean, and floss daily to eliminate food particles that brushing might miss. You can also try a tongue scraper to remove the film build-up, says The Times of India's article.

Prevention of bad breath resulting from white tongue begins with a proper oral care regimen. Be sure to follow your dentist's recommendations to correct white tongue, bad breath or both, and maintain a proper oral hygiene routine to prevent it from cropping up in the future.