Halitosis in laymen’s term means bad breath. It is very common; even when you wake up after sleep, you may have bad breath which can of course be cleared off. Often, just keeping quite can give you a bad breath. Some people are keeping it all inside and when they open up, they make you go Eew!
So what causes halitosis? There are multiple causes of it. The main reason is one’s oral health. If bacteria builds up in your mouth, it can cause your breath to smell.
Bacteria break down pieces of food in the mouth, releasing unpleasant-smelling gas. Any food trapped in your teeth will be broken down by bacteria, causing bad breath.
Find Out if You Have Bad Breath
It's not always easy to tell if you have bad breath. Other people may notice it first, but could feel uncomfortable telling you.
A simple test to find out whether you have bad breath is to lick the inside of your wrist with the back of your tongue and wait for a few seconds until the saliva dries. If your wrist smells unpleasant, it's likely your breath does too.
Bad breath can be very embarrassing, but it is a common condition and there are numerous ways to fight it. If you have bad breath, for God’s love learn some of these tips and spare other people the horror!
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Brush Twice Daily
Brush your teeth two to three minutes at least twice a day to remove plaque and food debris. It’s very important to brush your teeth before going to bed.
Floss daily
Flossing will remove food debris from in between the teeth that a toothbrush can't reach. If the food debris is not removed, the bacteria will begin to feed on it, causing bad breath.
Use a mouth rinse
Keep in mind that if a dental problem is the cause of chronic bad breath, a mouth rinse will only mask the odour and not cure it. According to a study by the University of Illinois at Chicago, rinsing your mouth with black or green tea suppresses the growth of bacteria that cause mouth odour. You may want to try it.
Quit smoking and avoid tobacco products
If you ever needed another reason to quit, here’s an easy one: smoking contributes to bad breath. Tobacco tends to dry out your mouth and can leave an unpleasant smell that lingers even after brushing your teeth.
Eat a piece of sugarless candy or chew sugarless gum
If you have dry mouth, try sucking on a piece of sugarless candy or chew sugarless gum to stimulate saliva flow. The saliva will help to wash away food debris and bacteria that cause bad breath.
Drink Water
Be sure to drink a sufficient amount of water (six to eight 8-ounce glasses) daily to avoid dry mouth. Drinking water will help keep odour under control because it helps wash away food particles and bacteria, the primary cause of bad breath.
If you still have bad breath after making changes to your dental hygiene, see your GP. There may be a medical cause that needs investigating.
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