Known formally as halitosis, bad
breath plagues a good portion of the population, as demonstrated by
the commercial success of the chewing gum and breath-mint industries.
Blamed for everything from bad interviews to sour dates, unpleasant
breath can be a real turn-off, but more importantly, it is often an
embarrassing indication that something is wrong. The causes of bad
breath are extensive, and range from sub-par dental hygiene and gum
disease to more serious systemic infections in the lungs or
gastrointestinal tract. The following hygiene tips will solve bad
breath problems for most people, but a medical professional should be
consulted in the case that they persist.
Clean your mouth thoroughly!
Bacteria and rotting food
particles are two of the most common causes of bad breath, both of
which can be taken care of with a strong cleaning routine consisting
of brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash.
It is important to recognize that
there is a difference between cleaning your teeth and cleaning your
mouth. While the teeth are important, they constitute only a small
portion of your mouth as a whole. Your tongue is a biological
shag-carpet that picks up all sorts of bacteria and food residue.
Using a manual toothbrush, the edge of a spoon, or a specialized
tongue-cleaner device, you should scrape your tongue to remove
bacteria as part of your brushing regimen. You should also include
the sides of your cheeks in your routine.
Leave your morning breath in bed.
Morning breath is caused by
having a dry mouth, as saliva production is naturally slowed while we
sleep. Bacteria loves dry mouths that do not threaten to wash it
away. Increasing your saliva production physically washes away
bacteria, and also taps into saliva's natural antiseptic properties.
Mouth-cleaning gums are often little more than saliva-production
stimulators. You can lessen the severity of bad breath simply by
chewing sugar-free gum between meals, and by drinking as much water
as possible throughout the day to keep your mouth moisturized.
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