Secret OBSESSION

Alright confession time.

I'm obsessed with scraping my tongue. Wait. What you ask???

You know, the step that takes place after you get done brushing your teeth to scrap off the filthy, furry layer of left over bacteria on the back of your tongue?

I know you were hoping for more but that's me. I'm not obsessed with nice cars. I'm not obsessed with fancy jewelry. I'm obsessed with good hygiene. It comes with being OCD and the fact that my family growing up had very sensitive noses to foul odors. Getting out the door past my mom or dad with bad breath was near impossible. Hence the obsession (or complex -whatever you want to call it) with my tongue scraper.

For those of you that don't see the benefit of a tongue scraper, let's talk Dentistry 101: According to Wikipedia, "the most common location for mouth-related halitosis is the tongue. Tongue bacteria produce malodorous compounds and fatty acids, and account for 80-90% of all cases of mouth-related bad breath. Large quantities of naturally-occurring bacteria are often found on the posterior dorsum of the tongue, where they are relatively undisturbed by normal activity. This part of the tongue is relatively dry and poorly cleansed, and bacterial populations can thrive on remnants of food deposits, dead epithelial cells, and postnasal drip. When left on the tongue, the anaerobic respiration of such bacteria can yield the "rotten egg" smell of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, Allyl methyl sulfide, and dimethyl sulfide.

According to Wikipedia, Dr. Oz and numerous other clinical studies, religiously cleaning the tongue is the best way to obtain the freshest breath possible. Methods used against bad breath, such as mints, mouth sprays, mouthwash or gum, may only temporarily mask the odors created by the bacteria on the tongue, but cannot cure bad breath because they do not remove the source of the bad breath. In order to prevent the production of the sulfur-containing compounds mentioned above, the bacteria on the tongue must be removed, as must the decaying food debris present on the rear areas of the tongue. Doesn't all that make you want to rush out and buy yourself a tongue cleaner? Thought so. Most all drugstores carry them. I personally like the $3.00 DenTek's Tongue Cleaner. It only takes 30 seconds, 2 times a day to do the job.

Instructions: Extend your tongue. Place the Tongue Cleaner on the back of your tongue and pull forward, skimming the surface of your tongue. Rinse the Tongue Cleaner with warm water and repeat as necessary. If bad breath persists, consult your dentist. For Best Results: Like your toothbrush, you should replace your tongue cleaner every 3 months.