Bad breath, technically know as halitosis, can be an embarrassing problem which affects not only you, but those around you. The good new is, this problem can be rectified as long you are diligent enough to find the cure that works for you and the particular cause for your bad breath. The following are 5 of the most common causes of bad breath and their cures.
1. Good Dental Hygiene
Our mouths contain more bacteria cells than the number of cells that make up our entire body. As bacteria digest food and sugars within your mouth, they leave behind waste products that smell bad. Thoroughly brushing your teeth will get rid of a large amount of the bacteria that are present. Bacteria grab hold and stick to the teeth and other areas of the mouth. Therefore, it is not enough just rinse your mouth with mouthwash, you must actually brush the bacteria away to get them to break their stinky hold in your mouth.
You should brush your teeth at least twice per day, although anytime after you eat would be even more effective. You should also floss your teeth once each day. Food particles can easily become trapped within the nooks and crannies of the mouth, particularly in the minute spaces between the teeth and along the gum line.
The tongue is a particularly rich environment for hoarding causes of bad breath. There are plenty of miniature ridges and valleys in between all those taste buds that are wonderful hiding places for food particles, bacteria, and their waste products to hide. Brushing the tongue well, each and every time you brush your teeth, can help to combat this problem.
2. Professional Dental Cleanings
Having your teeth professionally cleaned twice per year is also important for keeping bad breath away. Plaque, the filmy, smelly substance that we can scrape off our teeth when we don’t brush can be hard to brush away when it gets up under the gums. After a time, this build up of plaque becomes hard and yellow and must be scrapped off by special tools the dentist uses. A visit to the dentist for a twice-yearly cleaning is like a deep cleaning for your mouth. Bacteria tend to be attracted to other bacteria, so the less there are to start with, the better.
3. Taking Care Of Dental Problems
Broken and rotting teeth can harbor smelly bacteria. A tooth abscess is an infection of the tooth. Both of these problems are harbors of smelly germs. Having these problems taken care of by a dentist will alleviate a lot of foul breath problems. Dirty dentures can also be a smelly culprit and should be professionally cleaned at intervals to ward off contributing to bad breath.
4. Dietary Changes
Most people know that foods such as garlic and onions can contribute to bad breath. But, there are many foods which can actually help to make your breath fresh and clean smelling.
Fruits high in vitamin C, such as most citrus fruits, can help. Vitamin C helps to kill many bacteria and the fewer bacteria in your mouth, the less bad breath you’ll have.
Crisp fruits and veggies can also help curb rancid breath by scraping away germs, other food particles, and dead skin cells that accumulate on the surfaces within the mouth.
The green pigment, chlorophyll helps to neutralize nasty odors. Eating plenty of leafy greens can help to really freshen your breath. Parsley, mint, and basil are also great breath refreshers. When chewed, they release essential oils which help to tame bad breath.
5. Change What You Drink
Caffeinated beverages and alcohol lower the pH of the mouth, raising the acidity, which bacteria thrive in, and contributes to bad smells emanating from the mouth. Drinking plain water can help to wash away much of the debris in the mouth, thereby freshening the breath. Water also helps the mouth to stay hydrated. One of the main causes of morning breath is due to our mouths becoming dry at night while we sleep.
Chewing gum helps us to salivate more, which brings about some of the same benefits as drinking water. It helps our mouths to stay moist. But saliva also contains enzymes which help to kill many of the stinky bacteria residing within our mouths.
If you have tried the above solutions and still find yourself the victim of halitosis, a visit to your doctor may be in order. Something as simple as a sinus infection may be the culprit, as may be tonsil stones, a large contributor to very bad breath. Many diseases such as diabetes and certain medications can also contribute to bad breath.
Whether someone has been caring enough to tell you or whether you’ve noticed it yourself, there is no reason to continue suffering with bad breath, as there are cures for this smelly and embarrassing problem.
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Luckily I don’t have a chronic bad breath, but I do notice a smell (and even a taste) if I don’t brush more than once a day. It’s nice to know that there are other options in addition to good dental hygiene that I can try out. Great suggestions! I’ll definitely be trying these out - I like the idea of eating more fruits and vegetables to help my breath 🙂