The tongue is probably the major source of oral malodor

There are various types of "tongue formations",  the rougher one's tongue, the more likely they are to  have bad breath.  Since one inherits physical characteristics, then it follows that one can inherit the "type" of tongue associated with Bad Breath.

The deep groove going down the middle of the tongue pictured above is found in a "fissured" tongue and may provide a home for anaerobic bacteria to breed at the bottom of the fissure.   Since Oxygen cannot get to the bottom of this fissure, it is very important to cleanse it thoroughly.

"Hairy tongue", describes a condition where the fibers that make up the tongue (papillae), are slightly longer than the norm.  The longer the papillae, the more rough the appearance of the tongue and of course the better to trap the sulphur producing bacteria.

Is having a coating on my tongue normal?

Many people have coatings on their tongue.  Some have implicated the coating as a source of bad breath.  Having a coating on your tongue does not necessarily mean that you have a yeast infection (Candida) or bad breath. If you are concerned, check it out with a professional.

The coating that develops at the back of the tongue has definitely been associated with bad breath.  It is believed that the origin of this mucus material is post-nasal drip. Perhaps a quarter of the urban population suffers from post-nasal drip. Many of us don't even know we have it. In most cases, it's not associated with any disease, but may be due to allergies. Most of the mucus secretion rolls down the throat, but some of them may get stuck on the tongue.  After sitting on the tongue for a few days, the millions of bacteria present break it down, yielding foul smelling sulphur compounds. 

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Last modified: October 17, 2007