How to Get Rid of Bad Breath
Let’s talk halitosis – aka. bad breath, morning breath, and my favorite, dragon breath. It stinks! Halitosis affects one in four adults, and although most people can fix the problem with a quick brush and rinse, others have a chronic problem. If you really want to get rid of bad breath, a breath mint won’t do the trick: you have to go to the source. Your halitosis could be caused by anything from jamming a marble up your nose to serious health problems.
The Many Causes of Bad Breath
Poor oral hygiene – If you’re not brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and scraping your tongue, then your mouth is a bacteria factory!
The fix: Bacteria under the gums, on your tongue, under your tongue, and just about everywhere else in your mouth causes bad breath. But, you don’t want to get rid of all the bacteria by using a mouthwash, because good bacterial helps keep the bad, cavity-causing bacteria in check. Instead, follow your dentist’s recommended oral hygiene regimen (i.e. brushing and flossing).
A diet high in sugar and processed foods – Bad bacteria causes bad breath, and it thrives on sugar and processed foods.
The fix: A diet based on fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy is not only better for your body, it’s better for your breath!
Dry mouth – Saliva washes the mouth out, keeping bacteria levels in balance. But when you’re dehydrated, breath through your mouth, or take medication with dry mouth as a side effect, saliva dries before it can do its job.
The fix: Stay hydrated! Drinking lots of fluids, especially water, will also wash your mouth out. Just be sure your beverages are sugar-free. Another solution is to chew sugar-free gum, which stimulates the saliva glands.
Jamming a marble up your nose - Kids do the darndest things, like cramming foreign objects up their nostrils. Believe it or not, this can cause bad breath, because with nasal passages blocked by marbles, peas, toy trucks, and other wedgeables, children have to breathe through their mouths.
The fix: See “Dry Mouth” above, and gently remove the foreign object from your nose.
Oral infection – Bad breath can result from cavities, sores, and plaque buildup.
The fix: See your dentist regularly to fix these problems before they become bigger, stinkier issues.
Serious health problems – Gastrointestinal issues, lung infections, sinus infections, and kidney problems can all cause bad breath.
The fix: If you think your halitosis could be caused by another health issue, have a breath mint and see your doctor asap!
Eating garlic – Yes, eating garlic will cause temporary bad breath. Garlic contains a sulfuric compound called allicin, which smells an awful lot like the sulfurous gasses produced by your own halitosis-causing oral bacteria.
The fix: Chase it with an apple. Studies have shown that apples may deodorize the stink-causing enzymes in garlic. Lemon juice might also work.
Bad Breath Cures from Around the World
In Iraq, they chew cloves.
In Brazil, they chew cinnamon.
In Singapore, they chew guava peels.
In Italy, they chew parsley.
What’s your favorite cure for bad breath?