Treating Bad Breath

f you’re sure that the above fall into your scheme of things then you surely need to do something seriously about this! The main cause of bad breath (also known as halitosis in scientific terms) is a buildup of food particles in the mouth and the bacteria that result. Generally our age old fundamentals of brushing after every meal helps as the teeth and the breath both remain clean, getting rid of bad breath totally!

Here are some of the tips to help you combat with bad breath:

* Its best if you could visit your dentist at least every six months for cleanings and checkups to keep your mouth free of plaque buildup and other problems that may lead to bad breath. At least you are sure that the people surrounding you are equally happy and at ease.

* Watch your consumption of foods such as alcohol, coffee (both caffeinated and decaffeinated), dense proteins (such as those found in dairy and meat products), garlic and onions, and sugars. These are all bad-breath offenders. As nutritious as they may be health wise, they tend to emit odors, especially onion that’s difficult to completely cleanse, despite using mouth fresheners.

* Try to breathe through your nose. Breathing through your mouth can lead to having a dry mouth, which creates a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria. Have as much as Vitamin C as possible. Vitamin C makes you resistant in combating all types of coughs and colds, thereby allowing you to breathe through your nose and not through your mouth

* Keep a regular log of your eating habits and medications, as these can cause bad breath. Share the log with your dentist. Taking care of your teeth adds in as many as seven years in your life span. Odor of the mouth can also be an indication of an infection being developed in your mouth, and thereby a warning against it.

* Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day to remove food particles and plaque, and floss between teeth once a day, preferably in the evening after you eat. Its best if you could brush after every meal, but just in case you cannot, make sure that you use a good quality chewing gum, every time you’ve eaten something. Chewing gums not only guarantee that your teeth will remain clean, but they also kill bad breath.

* Try using a fluoride mouth rinse with antiseptic ingredients and a pleasant mint flavor. This helps to protect your teeth, and the flavor masks odor problems. An additional coverage would be to drink plenty of water throughout the day and also before brushing your teeth first thing in the morning. The fluoride in the toothpaste is generally sweet so the obvious choice of drinking water after brushing may or may not allow you to drink more water. Water had before brushing is rather tough a habit to inculcate and the more you force this habit to be maintained, the more you can help toxins in your body to get released. It is these toxins that help in generating bad breath along with a host of other food items that you consume.

* Consider internal breath fresheners' such as over-the-counter pills you take before or after a meal to aid the prevention of malodorous breath' or go the natural route and munch on some parsley after a meal. Seven minute of munching or chewing a gum can help you clean your teeth instantly.

Additional tips for you

* Keep mints and gum on hand (or better yet, a toothbrush and toothpaste) for meals that include ingredients such as garlic and onions.

* If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night, and clean them before you put them on again in the morning.

* In case symptoms persist or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, please contact your physician, immediately.

* Using Listerine to gargle out after every brushing, helps in getting rid of odor, helps checking plague and also keeps your mouth clear of infections that you might attract in case you mouth accidentally remains open while sleeping.