For a Better Bad Breath Solution

Halitosis or bad breath can make for a huge amount of stress. Beyond the embarrassment that it causes other people, since it isn't something people are ready to talk about, it can destroy a business negotiation, totally trash a date and leave you feeling either horribly perplexed or lower than a worm's belly. Just the anxiety and the doubt that lies in that annoying little thought, "is it my breath?" can be enough to foul up anybody's day. But let's just face it. Yes, everybody can have bad breath at least occasionally and some have such a serious problem that a normal bad breath solution just will not solve their problem.

So What causes bad breath?

Usually halitosis or bad breath results from the action of mouth bacteria mainly on the tongue - and often in awkward to reach places, and on and around the teeth. As these bacteria devour the food particles and plaque they find, sulfur compounds are released causing the bad smells. But, this might be only a part of what's happening and not all of those odors coming out of the mouth may be a result of bacterial action. An appropriate bad breath solution really depends on identifying exactly what could be contributing to the problem so let's look at some other typical questions about bad breath causes.

Can bad breath be caused by some foods?

Certainly. Food is probably the main non-bacterial source of bad breath. The notorious ones are onions and garlic which have strong smelling molecules that can remain in our system, and subsequently get to the lungs so that when we breath we start to stink up the locale. Also, since there is a link of sorts between acid reflux and halitosis, avoiding greasy foods, caffeine and, most unfortunately, chocolate, which could cause acid reflux may end up as a part of your bad breath solution.

How does smoking affect my breath?

It's going to affect more than just how your breath smells. Ignoring the fact that a lot of us find the stink of stale tobacco smoke revolting, smoking dries out your mouth which reduces the amount of saliva. That saliva, which you now don't have, would have acted as a sort of natural mouthwash to remove the bacteria and their waste products from your mouth. If you are a smoker, you probably won't really believe just how bad you may be smelling to other people since smoking may suppress your senses of taste and smell.

Is it possible for bad breath to begin in my stomach?

Indeed, this can happen. A condition named digestive halitosis can be caused by the continuous functioning of the digestive enzymes. If there's no food to work on, the enzymes will start effecting the stomach lining which can create a nasty odor like rotting food which comes out in your breath. Normally it's fairly simple to get rid of digestive halitosis since it halts once you put some food in your stomach for them to work on.

What do acid reflux and halitosis have to do with each other?|How are acid reflux and halitosis related?|What's the connection between acid reflux and halitosis?|Are acid reflux and halitosis related?}

Heartburn or acid reflux is the backwards flow of stomach acids up the esophagus. Aside from being pretty unpleasant, it can deliver more food for bacteria to your mouth along with some unpleasant smelling molecules from the stomach. It is an indirect relationship but bad breath is one more reason to resolve heartburn.

The most basic remedy, in the majority of cases, means getting rid of odor causing bacteria in the mouth. So, the simplest bad breath solution is to maintain good oral hygiene. Flossing is necessary because it helps reduce both plaque and any food particles that are stuck between teeth or at the gum line. Brushing assists in this process. Cleaning your tongue is particularly important. Since brushing it can be uncomfortable and could fail to be completely effective unless done carefully with a very soft brush, you could find a tongue scraper is a good alternative. Cavities or abscesses can also contribute to bad breath as well as being painful and causing tooth loss. Seeing your dentist regularly is part of good oral hygiene.

Some basic home remedies to treat bad breath can also be used to reduce the effects of foods such as onions and garlic. Chewing on parsley or basil or other "greens" releases chlorophyll which is a deodorizer. Citrus fruits will not only stimulate saliva - our built-in natural mouthwash - but their acidity eliminates most mouth bacteria. And they also leave your mouth with a tangy fresh scent.

As should be obvious by now, there is no single bad breath solution. Different bad breath causes respond to different remedies and taking a holistic perspective will help you not only eliminate bad breath bacteria but also to take care of the other possible causes.