Banish Bad Breath Forever - Common Sense Tips
No matter how much you do to prevent developing bad breath, it happens to most of us at one point in our lives. It may only be for a day, and we may have forgotten to brush after that hot spicy salad, but everyone will have experienced it at least once. It can be very embarrassing and non-too pleasant for our companions either. This article looks at why we might suffer from this condition and how to ensure it is kicked into touch for good.
What Is Bad Breath?
Bad breath is usually the result of poor oral hygiene, its medical name is halitosis and it can affect anyone. Official figures suggest that 25 per cent of us have suffered from this condition on a regular basis. When we fail to take proper care of our mouths, we tend to suffer from a build-up of bacteria. The bacteria attempts to break down the food that is left in our mouths, and this releases a nasty smelling gas. If we cleaned our teeth properly, there would be no food particles for the bacteria to target. We can also suffer from bad breath if we eat strong flavored foods, and these are typified by onions and garlic. You can also suffer from bad breath if you are unwell, smoke cigarettes or drink a lot of alcohol. There are ways to ensure that your bad breath doesn’t become a problem, but you need to be vigilant.
Brush Your Teeth Regularly!
Stating the obvious, somewhat, but this is the best place to start your battle against halitosis. The biggest cause of bad breath is the build-up of plaque, but this is nullified if you brush regularly and correctly. Brush at least twice a day and spend 2 minutes on the task in hand. You should also floss once a day, because this will remove the food particles between your teeth. If you feel like you should be doing this more often, just go ahead, just try not to brush too aggressively as this can harm your enamel.
Tongue Scraping
Your tongue can harbor a lot of bad smelling bacteria, and you can remove this using your toothbrush gently over the surface area. You can also try using a tongue scraper, this is purpose built for the smelly germ removal.
Foul Food Smells
As mentioned previously, onions and garlic contribute to bad breath and brushing alone does not change the situation. The substance contained in these items actually enters your bloodstream and you eventually breathe them out of your lungs. If you know you are going to be in an important meeting, or have a hot date lined up, avoid eating these until the next day if possible!
Smoking
This is one habit that most of us find disgusting, not only will it give you bad breathe, but it also may kill you as a way of saying thank you! If you are a smoker, please try whatever works for you before it is too late.
Good Breath?
Hopefully this article will point you in the right direction, if you find that your breath is still an issue, contact your doctor or dentist for some specialist advice. For further information, you may also like to read our article on bad breath remedies.
Featured images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2012/02/29/11/57/brush-18729_150.jpg
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/01/08/01/26/onions-74354_150.jpg
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2012/03/01/01/31/your-20198_150.jpg
Lisa Hendricks is a cosmetic dentist by profession. She specializes in smile makeovers and has changed the life of many through this procedure. A firm believer in oral hygiene, she advises people on matters of oral health on her blog.
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