During my cleanses, one of the things that has perhaps bothered me the most is dealing with the bad breath that is associated with fasting.  As much as I hate bad breath, in fasting it is generally a good thing.  It is caused by the coating which appears on the upper surface of the tongue soon after the commencement of the cleanse or fast.  Initially, the body begins to digest such waste material and deposits of fat as are available to it. This coating on the tongue is an outward proof that inner elimination is in progress. As soon as the digestive organs have been purified, the mouth returns to normal.  For many, this process may take weeks, and even at the conclusion of the cleanse or fast, the coating on the tongue may still be there.

It is possible to make an enormous difference in dealing with your bad breath, and possibly even eliminate it.  The solution is to clean your tongue each day — sometimes even twice a day. A lot of research into oral hygiene has identified the tongue (and particularly an odiferous patch at the back) as one of the main contributors to bad breath. So if get yourself a quality tongue scraper, you could be on the path to better breath during your cleanse.

Start by brushing from the back of your throat and sweeping forward, toward your lips. Press firmly, without scraping too hard. What you’re looking for your scraper to do is remove the gooey substance from the back of your tongue. Many people find a copper scraper works best for this; it’s flexible, yet firm and durable.

Of course, we should still maintain good oral hygiene by brushing two to three times a day and ensuring that we floss everyday.  This assists in the elimination of the bacteria that is the cause of bad breath.  Now here's some useful information you may not be aware of.  Something as simple as a little salt and pepper on your toothbrush could go such a long way when it comes to preventing bad breath.  Pepper is a strong antibacterial agent, and so is salt. Furthermore, a little salt around the base of the gum serves to tighten up the tissue. This discourages the bacteria that usually gather in pockets at the base of the teeth, leading to gum disease. So take those salt and pepper shakers off the dining room table and bring them into your bathroom.

For an even better solution, take your cue from the director of the Environmental Dental Association. He suggests combining equal measures of salt and baking soda (granted — yuck). Brush your teeth with this rather challenging dentifrice, first dipping your brush in a solution that’s half water, half food-grade hydrogen peroxide. Plunge it into your special powder and scrub away. Sure, the taste might make you cringe, but your new fresh breath will make you smile. 

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