by Darren Wumoult
Practically everybody in the world has had bad breath at some point in their lives, although you can expect that not many will readily admit it. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is actually a very common condition that may result from several possible causes, including inadequate dental hygiene, tooth cavities, gingivitis or smoking.
Hundreds of bacteria reside in a person's mouth. Some of these are good bacteria that help break down the proteins and other food debris left after eating. However, in the process of breaking down the food particles, many of these oral microorganisms emit volatile sulfuric compounds or VSCs. These chemicals have a rather offensive smell. In most cases, there is very small amount of VSCs produced and the smell is hardly noticeable. However, some people have very high levels of bacteria in their mouths that can produce excessive amounts of VSCs. In these cases, the combined odor of these chemicals become very unmistakable and comes out as bad breath.Besides these bacteria, other sources of foul odor in the mouth are the leftover food particles themselves. If you don't clean your mouth properly, bits of food will be left stuck in the crevices of your mouth and will eventually rot.
Also, regular consumption of spicy foods such as garlic, and sulfur-rich foods like onion and cabbage, can lead to the onset of halitosis as well. When ingested, the chemicals in these foods are mixed into the bloodstream and eventually released in the person's breath.The most effective and obvious way of preventing bad breath is through daily brushing of the teeth and gums, which includes the tongue, flossing, and rinsing. This should be done after every meal and preferably after each time you eat something. Proper cleaning of the mouth is important, particularly after eating foods that are high in protein content. This is because even after you finish a meal, microscopic particles of food still remain in the mouth.
Much of this food debris ends up trapped between the teeth and also in the coating found on the posterior aspect of the tongue. Since these are exactly the same locations in which the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath live, by not cleaning thoroughly a prolonged food supply is provided for these bacteria.If you go to your local pharmacy, you can ask for a tongue cleaner that you can use to scrub the back of your tongue. However, you can also use an inverted teaspoon for this. Simply hold the teaspoon with the hollow part facing down and gently scrape the furthest part of the tongue. Some people even use their toothbrushes for this.Another technique to keep your breath fresh it to keep your saliva flowing. You don't necessarily have to drool, but keeping the inside of your mouth wet will prevent the development of nasty-smelling oral bacteria. Surely you've noticed that your breath smells rather stinky in the morning. This is because saliva production is considerably reduced while you sleep.
Without the continuous flow of fluids, bacteria will then build up and produce the rank smell that you will observe in your breath upon waking up in the morning.Alcohol-free mouthwashes can also help in providing a temporary solution to bad breath. As an alternative, you can make your own mouthwash by using baking soda. Countless people have eliminated bad breath using this home remedy, although many of them admit that it's not the best tasting mouthwash in the world.Still another technique that some people use is to regularly gargle with a hydrogen peroxide solution. The oxygen in these improvised mouthwashes is very effective in eradicating the oral bacteria in the mouth and even in the throat.
When the amount of bacteria is reduced, the chance of acquiring bad breath is decreased as well.One handy item that can be used is the Waterpik. The purpose of this product is to knock out the food particles stuck in between the teeth and gums by using a strong jet of water. It has an adjustable pressure setting and comes with its own special tongue cleaner. The portable version comes with a battery and can easily be carried around. However, at the retail price of $35, this item might be too expensive for some people.
Flossing does really work to keep my breath fresh. But, I need a tool so I don't have to put my fingers into my mouth. Gripit Floss Holders solved that problem. You can see them at www.gripit.biz.