Bad breath, medically known as Halitosis, is a problem that is not only irritating but highly embarrassing. We all face bad breath at one point or the other. Even if you regularly clean your teeth and never miss out on the floss, there may be times when bad breath is inevitable. A party where you had lots of drinks accompanied by some smokes, or a day at office where pressures demanded your constant attention, which eventually lead to a lot of coffee, are a few examples when bad breath is sure to trouble you. Although cleaning and rinsing immediately are simple things to tackle this foul odour, sometimes you require extra efforts like chewing a gum.
Causes of bad breath (Halitosis)
Bad breath is caused due bacteria known as anaerobic bacteria, which accumulate on our tongue. When we consume food, these bacteria try to break down what is left and produce sulphur compounds in the process. It is the release of these sulphur compounds that lead to bad breath. Some more causes that also lead to bad breath are:
Besides above mentioned causes, consumption of certain foods such as garlic and onions can also lead to a foul smell. There are certain diseases such as
oesophageal cancer,
liver diseases, and
diabetes that are also said to lead to bad breath.
Easy remedies to beat bad breath (Halitosis)
Oral Hygiene: The most basic remedy is to start brushing regularly, at least twice a day. Sometimes, you might consume food that contains a lot of onion. In this case, it’s necessary to brush one more time or rinse your mouth with mouth wash post lunch or dinner. Brushing will not help if it isn’t done properly. You need to brush the corners and the insides just as well. To help make brushing more effective, you can purchase small-sized brushes that only focus on the corners. Make
flossing your teeth a regular habit. Using a tongue scrapper or cleaner is a must as most of the bacteria are accumulated on the tongue.
Home Remedies: There are a lot of home remedies that you can resort to, if you are suffering from bad breath for some time. Consumption of fruits such as sweet limes and oranges is said to help a lot. Also, single oral drops of natural oils such as peppermint and tea tree oil will help fight bad breath. Sometimes, you don’t have the time to brush your teeth. At such times, you can keep some cardamom seeds handy and chew on them. Another similar option is mint leaves. These not only
fight bad breath, they also give an instant feeling of freshness.
Fruits and vegetables such as avocado, parsley, and apples also help fight bad breath.
Other Solutions for Prevention: The easiest way out is to keep gum handy at all times. However, the effectiveness of the chewing gum or any kind of mint varies. A small bottle of Listerine can also help a lot. It is said that gargling your mouth for 30 seconds with Listerine will help you fight bad breath and also get rid of the bacteria. You can also use hydrogen peroxide to kill the germs and bacteria. Rinse your mouth will a half-half solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Once you rinse your mouth with this solution, rinse it again with water as the solution leaves your mouth dry. Organic toothpastes are said to be better at fighting bad breath. When you choose your toothpaste, make sure it contains fluoride.
The best suggestion is to use preventive measures and maintain
oral hygiene. Oral problems can lead to some really serious gum ailments. If you are experiencing
continuous bad breath and it doesn’t seem to budge after the use of these remedies,
consult your dentist as soon as possible.