What’s that smell?
Try this. Begin by holding your hand (palm facing you) approximately 3 inches in front of your mouth. Now blow a full breath into your hand. While keeping your hand in place, take a whiff of the air in front of your hand. What do you smell? Hopefully nothing, or better yet, something pleasant. For those of you less than happy with what you’re smelling right now, this post may prove to be particularly prudent.
Halitosis (bad breath) can be caused by:
Certain food such as garlic, onions, fish, meat, cheese, etc.
Poor general oral hygiene
Smoking
Obesity
Fasting
Nasal and sinus infections
Throat infections
Faulty dental restorations
Periodontal disease
Xerostomia (dry mouth)
Other underlying health conditions
7 Tips for Preventing Bad Breath
Knowing the causes of bad breath can help us to understand the measures we need to take to prevent it. In no particular order, here is a list of preventive measures you can take starting today to reduce the likelihood that you will have bad breath:
1) Brush & Rinse (with water) After Each Meal – This is one of the best ways to ensure good breath as you are removing excess food particles from in and around the teeth.
2) Floss at Least Once Per Day – Flossing is equally as important as brushing. Just like recommendation number one above, flossing is intended to remove food particles from between the teeth. This will, in turn, create an unfavorable environment for bacteria growth.
3) Brush Your Tongue – Gently brush your tongue from back to front after brushing your teeth.
4) Chew Sugarless Gum – Chewing sugarless gum can increase the flow of saliva and reduce the chances you’ll experience dry mouth-related bad breath. You can also try sugarless throat lozenges to create the same effect.
5) Drink Plenty of Water – This recommendation follows the same lines as the above suggestion. Drinking plenty of water reduces the occurrence of dry mouth by stimulating saliva production. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks cause dehydration. Stick to water.
6) Change your toothbrush monthly – Bristles will wear, fray and stiffen during use, which will prevent you from safely and thoroughly cleaning your teeth.
7) Quit Smoking – Bad breath is inevitable if you smoke. However, following the above tips can minimize your severity of bad breath.
