Bad Breath Prevention

Bad breath could be changing your world and you don't even know it. You may be charming, witty and interesting, but unless you are mime, you have to open your mouth to prove it. Bad breath can have three causes - moxious foods and drinks, poor oral hygiene or medical problems like sinus infections, gum disease or intestinal problems. All of these problems are quite common.

How do you find out if you have bad breath ?
Take this simple test. Take a piece of gauze or cotton swab and run it around your mouth, over the top of your tongue and around your gums. Then smell it. In most cases, if you have offensive breath,you're going to smell that odor.

Prevention of Bad Breath

• Attack plaque : Your mouth can be a haven for plaque, a soft, clear film to which living and dead bacteria glom. At any given time, there are atleast 50 trillion of these odor causing bacteria in your mouth. Brushing your teeth after each meal removes this gooey substrate along with the bacteria and food bits stuck in it. Follow that by flossing between your teeth - especially along the gum line - and you will get what is left.
• Give your tongue the twice over : When you are finished brushing your teeth, take your toothbrush and brush all across the top surface of your tongue. That will remove any bacteria hiding in the skin folds of your tongue. You could also use a tongue cleaner for the same effect.
• Rinse out your mouth : A lot of times, bad breath is really a result of a dry mouth. The odors just kind of ferment in a dry environment. By swishing your mouth with water, you are flushing away some of the bad residue. This is especially important if you have had coffee or milk. These two drinks are notorious for bad breath.
• Suck it up : If you have water scarcity, you may suck on a sugar-free lemon frop. Citrus fruits stimulate salivary flow, and saliva, being slightly acidic, helps supress bacteria. Chewing gum can serve the same function, loosening food bits then flushing them away with saliva.
• Avoid problem foods : Spices (onions, hot peppers, garlic) and spicy offshoots like pepperoni tend to stay in your mouth and recirculate for up to 24 hours no matter how often you brush. Research indicates that a diet high in certain fats may contribute to bad breath.
• Don't skip breakfast : Your stomach contains powerful acids which aid in the digestion of the food you eat. In the morning, these acids tend to rise. A morning meal helps to absorb the acid fumes before they escape through your mouth.
• Try a breath freshener : You can get upto 30 minutes of relief from bad breath by using breath fresheners. Some natural breath fresheners are cloves, cardamom, thulsi leaves (holy basil), mint leaves etc.
• Use a good mouthwash : Make it a habit to use a mouthwash each time you finished brushing your teeth. Mouthwashes not only kill bacteria but also prevent gum disease.
• See your dentist : Bad breath could also be a result of gastrointestinal problems. Some diseases like tuberculosis, cancer and syphilis can also cause bad breath. But the most common medical problem that gives rise to bad breath is periodontal, or gum, disease, and untill it is addressed, you will continue to have bad breath. So getting a periodic dental checkup is a good idea.