Bad Breath Remedies: Prevent and Treat Halitosis

If you can’t follow up a meal with brushing, flossing and rinsing, drinking water can help cleanse your mouth of bacteria and food particles before they can start to cause problems. Drinking water not only prevents dry mouth, which can cause bad breath, it also flushes out debris and food particles before they break down and make your breath stink. Foul mouth odors are caused by a buildup of bacteria in the mouth that is typically dealt with by your saliva glands. If you don’t hydrate enough, your saliva production will decline, leading to a dry environment conducive to bacteria growth. Drinking plenty of water can ensure that your mouth stays moist and clean.

Components from food that you eat are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs, where their residual odor then comes out of your mouth with every breath you take. So the foods you eat will affect how your breath smells. Pungent ingredients like garlic, onions, and other spicy foods are some of the worst offenders when it comes to causing bad breath. Eat plenty of vegetables and herbs, while avoiding foods that contribute to bad breath like those high in sugar or with particularly potent flavor.

Dentists recommend brushing, flossing and rinsing twice a day for optimal oral hygiene. So what can you do in between cleanings? Chewing sugar-free gum can also help treat bad breath, as it activates saliva production in the mouth, which helps flush away food and bacteria from your teeth, gums and tongue. With an increase in saliva, odor-causing bacteria has a harder time clumping together, and hence won’t cause bad breath as much. Be careful not to chew gum or mints with sugar, as sugar is a main culprit of bacteria growth in the mouth.

Also, reducing your intake of high sugar drinks like soda or certain juices can also help bad breath, as sugar only exacerbates the conditions where odor-causing bacteria grows.

Alcohol and coffee are especially problematic when it comes to bad breath, so some basic treatment can go a long way in stemming any odors that occur after indulging in your favorite drink. After a cup of coffee or glass of wine, try rinsing with an antiseptic rinse like LISTERINE^® ULTRACLEAN^® mouthwash for bad breath or using a portable breath freshener like LISTERINE^® POCKETPAKS^® strips. Rinsing twice daily with a LISTERINE^® mouthwash for bad breath as part of your brushing and flossing routine is very effective at removing excess food debris, as well as keeping bacteria from forming on the gums.

Getting rid of bad breath for those who smoke or chew tobacco will most likely entail quitting their bad habits. Aside from more serious oral health issues like gum disease, bone loss, and oral cancer, smoking or chewing tobacco causes bad breath, commonly known as smoker’s breath. Removing it from your life will almost certainly improve the freshness of your breath.

Treating any oral infection you have will almost always improve the freshness of your breath, as infections create the perfect environment for odor-causing bacteria to thrive. See a dentist and follow their instructions carefully.

Sinus infections can also lead to bad breath, as the sinuses and mouth are closely related. If you are experiencing post-nasal drip due to a cold or sinus issue, bacteria can build up and cause foul odors to enter the mouth. If you believe your bad breath is the result of a sinus infection, enlarged tonsils, or post-nasal drip, it could be time to call medical professional.

Maybe you have been practicing good oral hygiene, but your breath still makes people visibly turn their heads. It might be time to call a professional. Not only will your dentist give your teeth an expert touch, he or she can conduct an oral exam to detect and treat periodontal disease and other problems.