Is halitosis, a.k.a. bad breath, turning your relationships sour? Worse, are people turning away when you talk to them? Certainly, there are ways to deal with halitosis to avert embarrassing situations. Lifehacker Mihir Patkar shares scientific information and practical fixes for bad breath.
Most Common Causes of Bad Breath
Why or when does bad breath take place? The body slows down the production of saliva during sleep or travel, and this leaves dead cells on the tongue. This is often referred to as dry mouth. When bacteria break down, the dead cells and food bits inside the mouth release foul odor.
Garlic and onion are common culprits for foul breath, as is smoking. Fasting and crash-dieting aren’t often blamed for bad breath, but according to UK’s National Health Service, the body breaks down fat during these activities and releases ketones which have an unpleasant smell.
Certain health disorders, such as throat infections and diabetes, may also cause bad breath.
>>> Sugar Intake Linked to Healthy Teeth
>>> Healthy Groceries: Store Foods to Build Muscle
>>> Healthy Ways to Eat While on a Road Trip
DIY Check For Bad Breath
Don’t wait for other people to inform you that you have bad breath, check yourself! The tongue is mainly where dead cells are broken down by bacteria, so that’s where you should start inspecting. Do a visual check first. Dr. Harold Katz of the California Breath Clinic says that the tongue should look pink and shiny, not white and scaly. Scrape it with a cotton swab, dental floss, or a tongue scraper; let the scraper dry for a few seconds and smell it. Whatever that smells like, your breath smells remarkably similar.
Bad Breath Fixes You Can Do At Home
Fixing stinky breath must be done regularly. You can’t fix it now and expect to be done with it for the long-term. Here are some easy remedies:
- Rehydrate regularly. Drinking water is not only good for your overall health, it also prevents dry mouth. While water hydrates the mouth, it also helps saliva production.
- Brush your tongue as often as you brush your teeth. Make sure you brush the back and the middle areas.
- Use mouthwash regularly to rinse out food stuck between teeth. Bring a small bottle of mouthwash wherever you go. KnowYourTeeth recommends rinsing with mouthwash for 30 seconds, and avoiding food and cigarette for 30 minutes after.
- Floss every day. No brushing or rinsing will remove food debris tightly wedged between teeth.
- Use oral mint strips for a quick minty refresher. This must be done with the other remedies and not to be relied upon to cover up halitosis.
- Be in the habit of consuming breath-friendly foods. Green tea, cinnamon, celery, apples, melons, and oranges have beneficial effects to your breath and overall health.
Make these things a part of your daily routine and you’ll breathe easier.