Practically everybody in the world has had bad breath at some point in their lives, although you can expect that not many will readily admit it. Bad b...
Practically everybody in the world has had bad breath at some point in their lives,
although you can expect that not many will readily admit it. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is actually a very common condition that may result from several possible causes, including inadequate dental hygiene, tooth cavities, gingivitis or smoking.
Hundreds of bacteria reside in a person's mouth. Some of these are good bacteria that help break down the proteins and other food debris left after eating. However, in the process of breaking down the food particles, many of these oral microorganisms emit volatile sulfuric compounds or VSCs. These chemicals have a rather offensive smell. In most cases, there is very small amount of VSCs produced and the smell is hardly noticeable. However, some people have very high levels of bacteria in their mouths that can produce excessive amounts of VSCs. In these cases, the combined odor of these chemicals become very unmistakable and comes out as bad breath.
Besides these bacteria, other sources of foul odor in the mouth are the leftover food particles themselves. If you don’t clean your mouth properly, bits of food will be left stuck in the crevices of your mouth and will eventually rot. Also, regular consumption of spicy foods such as garlic, and sulfur-rich foods like onion and cabbage, can lead to the onset of halitosis as well. When ingested, the chemicals in these foods are mixed into the bloodstream and eventually released in the person's breath.
A very easy and effective tip in getting rid of bad breath is to simply brush your teeth after each meal. While eating, it is inevitable that some food bits will get stuck in between our teeth or gums. If not removed immediately, these will attract the smelly bacteria that cause bad breath. The action of brushing will remove these food particles and prevent bacteria from building up. You should brush your teeth after every meal if possible, especially if you eat foods that are rich in sugar or protein. Another tip to avoid bad breath is to make sure that you brush the surface of your tongue as well, especially the rear portion. People usually neglect to clean that back area of the tongue, turning it into a very good breeding ground for the bacteria that you certainly don’t want in your mouth.
If you go to your local pharmacy, you can ask for a tongue cleaner that you can use to scrub the back of your tongue. However, you can also use an inverted teaspoon for this. Simply hold the teaspoon with the hollow part facing down and gently scrape the furthest part of the tongue. Some people even use their toothbrushes for this.
Another useful tip for the prevention of bad breath is to always keep your mouth moist. Oral bacteria thrive when the mouth dries up and there is insufficient moisture. Saliva is actually very good in preventing the growth of these bacteria because it has natural antibacterial properties that can kill these microorganisms. Chewing sugar-free gum can help here because it stimulates the flow of saliva in the mouth. Drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day is also good in maintaining adequate moisture in the mouth throughout the day.
Alcohol-free mouthwashes can also help in providing a temporary solution to bad breath. As an alternative, you can make your own mouthwash by using baking soda. Countless people have eliminated bad breath using this home remedy, although many of them admit that it's not the best tasting mouthwash in the world.
Another great home-made mouthwash is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Most of the bacteria that cause bad breath are actually anaerobic, meaning that they thrive in environments devoid of oxygen. The hydrogen peroxide rinse will suddenly flood your mouth with oxygen, effectively killing a large portion of the bacteria lurking within. However, if you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, you can simply rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
One handy item that can be used is the Waterpik. The purpose of this product is to knock out the food particles stuck in between the teeth and gums by using a strong jet of water. It has an adjustable pressure setting and comes with its own special tongue cleaner. The portable version comes with a battery and can easily be carried around. However, at the retail price of $35, this item might be too expensive for some people.
