Mar 11, 2011
You brush and floss regularly, and avoid eating so-called stinky foods like onions and garlic. And yet you’re still plagued with less-than-fresh breath. What could be the culprit, and what can you do about it?
If bad breath if putting a damper on your social life, fear not, you should be able to get to the bottom of it, and make changes that will help the situation. First, how can you tell if you really do have bad breath? Barring having a friend or family member tell you, one simple way to tell is to put a clean finger in your mouth and scrape the back of your tongue, then rub that on the back of your hand. Wait a minute, then see what your hand smells like. If you think it’s unpleasant – chance are, it is to others as well.
So what are the most common causes of bad breath? Here are the biggest culprits:
- Bacteria. The microorganisms that make up bacteria breed inside your mouth, between your teeth and on your tongue. When left to fester, they multiply and give off bad odors.
- Your tonsils. Yes, your tonsils can be the culprit, if your tonsils are especially pitted. This can cause a bad-smelling substance to form in these holes, causing bad breath.
- The aforementioned onions and garlic. These foods can cause bad breath even hours after you’ve eaten them, and even after you’ve vigorously brushed your teeth!
- Bad habits. Bad habits such as smoking or chewing tobacco are not only detrimental to your overall health, but can also leave you with a foul taste and smell in your mouth, one that lingers.
- GI problems. Issues such as GERD or ulcers can cause bad breath when they release gas. Low-carb diets can also be a culprit, as the state of ketosis produces bad breath – in fact, this is how many people know that the diet is working!
So what can you do about these things? There’s the obvious – don’t eat onions and garlic even up to the day before you want to be assured of fresh-smelling breath. Brush your teeth – and tongue – twice a day. Many people forget to brush their tongue, but doing so will help eliminate the bacteria that are often the culprit where bad breath is concerned. You can also use inexpensive tongue scrapers for this purpose. And don’t forget to floss at least once a day, as this too will remove hidden food particles as well as plaque, which is another form of bacteria.
Gargling with peroxide or mouthwash will also help, as these substances will kill the bacteria that cause bad breath. Another easy remedy involves drinking a lot of water, as a lack of fluids can lead to dry mouth, which will cause bad breath. Along these lines, chewing gum can be of benefit, as this will increase the amount of saliva in your mouth, thus washing away the bacteria there.
Finally, don’t forget those regular checkups at your dentist! Decaying teeth do not smell pleasant, and these as well as gum disease can cause chronic bad breath that all the mouthwash in the world won’t alleviate.
Do you have persistent bad breath? Find a dentist on Top3Dentists and get some relief from bad breath.
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