Bad breath, also called halitosis, can cause personal, social,
and even career and relationship problems if it's not taken care
of. And even if one's bad breath is not severe, the ability to
limit the amount of morning breath is possible - if you know the
right things to do. Bad breath may be due to a number of factors
including poor dental hygiene, bacteria in the mouth, gum
disease, severe tartar buildup, tooth decay, smoking, and even
internal body issues such as diabetes or liver problems. It's
ultimately due to bacteria that live within the area of the
tongue and throat that can produce sulfur compounds which
combine with protein to cause bad breath. Oftentimes it is a dry
mouth that creates an environment where bad breath can flourish
- as bacteria often hides within the crevices of the tongue or
deep within the throat. Additionally, plaque on the tongue can
cause bad breath. To eliminate bad breath, it is important to
practice good overall dental hygiene. Of course, brushing is
critical - but miny brush for too short a time period of less
than a minute. To really get at the bacteria which cause odor,
2-3 minutes is appropriate. Additionally, flossing gets at the
bacteria your toothbrush cannot. While many find flossing a
difficult habit to maintain, it is the equivalent of only
washing part of your body when you shower. Incorporating your
flossing into your shower routine can be an easy way to get your
flossing done. Mouthwashes do reduce bad breath, but only
certain types - those with chlorine dioxide. Mouthwashes with a
higher percentage of alcohol can contribute to bad breath
formation due to their high alcohol content which tends to dry
out the mouth. Finally, consider a tongue scraper or tongue
cleaner to remove the layer of mucus and proteins from your
tongue and freshen your breath. A short-term substitute for this
would be brushing your tongue on a consistent basis. Using
proper dental hygiene is all most people need to reduce their
bad breath - your dentist can offer additional professional
support to overcoming this issue.
About the author:
Dave Lloyd has published
http://www.stopmybadbreath.
com, an online guide to stopping bad breath.
