How to Treat Bad Breath

Do people turn away when you talk to them? Do you seem to be offered an excessive amount of mints? The main cause of bad breath (halitosis) is a buildup of food particles in the mouth and the bacteria that result.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fresh Parsley
• Breath Fresheners
• Dental Floss
• Mouthwash
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Dental Floss
• Toothpaste

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Keep a regular log of your eating habits and medications, as these can cause bad breath. Share the log with your dentist.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep mints and gum on hand (or better yet, a toothbrush and toothpaste) for meals that include ingredients such as garlic and onions.
• If bad breath persists, check with your dentist. Bad breath might be a warning sign of other health problems.
• If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night, and clean them before you put them on again in the morning.
• Tobacco users often suffer from bad breath and other mouth-related problems.
• If symptoms persist or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[Runnergal]

on 11/27/2008 These all work really well, but also remember eating a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water. Eat according to your blood type, because I use to eat meat and such, but my body did not break it down correctly, so now I am vegetarian. Also try taking 1 chlorophyll tablet a day. Eat lots of fiber and vegetable juice to keep your colon cleansed. Lastly, consider detoxing your body once every 6 months.

[how-to-girl]

on 10/12/2008 good basics on dental hygiene.

[Lizzy1984]

on 9/18/2008 Bad breath can also come from a stomach ailment. Acid reflux or an ulcer? The odor may not even be coming from your mouth.... it might just be escaping there. Check with your doctor about a possible stomach issue. He may be able to help more than the dentist if you have exhausted all other options. Oh, it could also be periodontal (sp?) gum disease. I know that issue causes bad breath. Nice article.

[giegirl_08]

on 1/13/2007 Hi,ive searching in the internet on how to treat my bad breath,im shy to say this,after i eat i always brush my teeth day & night but still i can feel my breath smellls not so good,im desperate,i badly want to treat my bad breath,i suffer this bad breath since high school and i dont really join a group coz im shy,everytime i wake up in the morning i saw my teeth bleeding:(..Im so glad you give me a chance to write the embarassment i feel,thx a lot..

[monkeyarms]

on 1/9/2007 For those who have really bad breath and even the occasional "tonsil stone" or tonsilolith- I have this problem and if left untreated it results in very bad breath. I'm talking really bad; my roommate had the same problem and I couldn't stand to talk to him within a 3 ft radius. However, there are things you can do to prevent this type of bad breath (and I imagine lesser forms too.) First off, the Therabreath Products are awesome and they are available at Wal-Mart. Try the toothpaste with tongue scraper, and the mouthwash. Those products single-handedly alleviated my bad breath. If for whatever reason you don't have access to these products here are some things you can do. 1. Salt water rinse will really help out. I take a glass of warm water and add about a spoonful of salt and eventually gargle the whole thing. 2. Baking Soda rinse, not as effective as the salt water but still good. 3. Hydrogen peroxide rinse, this is a very effective way to kill those odor causing bacteria by oxygenating them. I gargle pure hydrogen peroxide, which was weird at first but not anymore. Use the above methods (together) and you will be on your way to fresh breath and new self-confidence.