We have all had bad breath at some time but have you ever thought about where it comes from? While there are many causes of bad breath, the most common causes are the lack of good oral hygiene, tobacco use, gum disease and tooth decay.
This is a widespread problem and as many as 60 percent of the American population are known to experience bad breath. Over 35 million more Americans have a condition called chronic halitosis. Only some of the cases of bad breath are caused by physical problems. Most of times, it is due to poor oral care. When attempting to treat this problem, do not fall for the usual over the counter remedies, since these just mask the symptoms temporarily, and would not get to the root of the odor problem.
Bacteria is the cause of bad breath or halitosis, and it can be found in every human's mouth, accumulating on the back of the tongue. These anaerobic bacteria thrive on whatever food particles remain in the mouth, and from that produce Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC). Volatile Sulfur Compounds smell like hydrogen sulfide, the smell we associate with rotten eggs! In addition, some bad breath smells can result from eating certain foods, which after digestion result in odor coming from the lungs.
Here are some common remedies to reduce halitosis:
Brush your Teeth Daily
The brushing technique you use is also important; many people do not know that there is a specific way to brush that is most effective at removing food that remains stuck between teeth. By brushing your teeth daily, you will eliminate a major cause of foul breath. Another important step is to schedule a dentist visit, to include teeth cleaning, on a regular basis. It is also possible to clean the tongue of the white coating that appears at the back of the tongue, either by brushing with a toothbrush, or using a tongue scraper, available in pharmacies. Maintaining a healthy diet is another key to getting rid of the sour breath smell.
Increase Production of Saliva
Most people are not aware that saliva is a key bacteria fighter. The lack of saliva or dry mouth means that bacteria can thrive better. A good idea is to try chewing gum to help increase the production of saliva which will in turn reduce any sour breath smell. You can also improve saliva production by keeping hydrated, and drinking at least eight glasses of water each day. This helps improve your health overall, in addition to helping stop bad breath.
When you find yourself in a group setting where other people are present, and you have not had a chance to brush your teeth, one easy solution is to rinse your mouth with some plain water. This helps to loosen any remaining food particles left in your teeth, and prevent bacteria from creating a foul odor. Be sure to spit it out and not swallow after rinsing. This will help alleviate the condition somewhat.
Chewing can really help avoid bad breath. If you do not have gum handy, go for some kind of candy or chips. You can also go for fresh vegetables, which have the added benefit of preventing plaque.
Intake of Vitamin C
Most of us understand the importance of Vitamin C for our health but do you know that Vitamin C actually can help prevent bad breath. It has the additional quality of improving health for smokers, because smoking reduces Vitamin C in the body.
Baking Soda
Some people brush with baking soda, but this can be really distasteful for many. If you can stand it, the characteristics of baking soda can help to destroy bad odors, which is the reason why many add it to your refrigerator or sprinkled it on your carpet prior to vacuuming. In fact, you will also notice that some toothpaste brands are now including baking soda, which is a little better tasting than the baking soda right out of the box.
Change your Toothbrush
Another good idea it to try using a water jet toothbrush, which works better in removing food particles that are stuck between teeth. Some of these types of brushes have battery packs, so you can take them with you. Getting that stubborn food out really helps fight bad breath.
Mouthwash
Finally, when you are considering what mouthwash to use, look for a mouthwash with Cetylpyridinium chloride or zinc chloride as ingredients. Any mouthwash without those ingredients are not going to be effective, and will not have long term effectiveness, but only mask the odor for a short time after rinsing. Hydrogen Peroxide is also recommended as a mouth rinse, because this solution adds oxygen to your mouth, which kills any bacteria that thrive in the mouth and cause bad breath.
Conclusion
With so many remedies available, it is important that you understand the underlying cause of your breath condition first. Only then, will you be able to apply the suitable solution to your breath problem.
Author Resource:-
Discover why your efforts to fight bad breath may not work and learn how you can cure bad breath when all else fail with our bad breath resource site.
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