Those who have bad breath and have just started a new medication or who have had recent dental surgery should consult their healthcare provider.
The alternative is to scrape your tongue with a special tongue cleaner. This method is also under assessment in the newest Cochrane review. Their last report found just two small trials looking at this method. They showed it can work, but that the effect is short-lived. They also highlight the risk of damaging the tongue by pressing too hard and to ensure that if you want to use a toothbrush to clean your tongue, you make sure that it’s a soft one.

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be an embarrassing problem. It can be caused by the foods one eats, dry mouth, tobacco products, or a medical disorder. Maintaining proper oral health can help reduce or eliminate bad breath. Causes of bad breath include diet, medication, poor oral hygiene, and diseases such as diabetes, GERD, gum disease, and more. Signs and symptoms may only be temporary. See a doctor for bad breath if you have: persistent dry mouth, bad sores in the mouth, pain with chewing or swallowing, white spots on the tonsils, fever, and more. There are 6 home remedy tips. Treatment for bad breath depends upon the cause. The prognosis for bad breath is generally good as bad breath is usually more of a nuisance rather than a serious medical condition.
Gum disease is caused by plaque - the sticky, often colorless, film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. Dry mouth or xerostomia may also cause bad breath due to decreased salivary flow. Saliva cleans your mouth and removes particles that may cause odor. Tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods and irritate your gum tissues. Bad breath may also be a sign that you have a serious health problem, such as a respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.