Fight Bad Breath

The only thing worse than someone invading your personal space during a conversation, is someone invading your personal space during a conversation with bad breath. Can they not tell that they have bad breath? Have they just eaten something smelly or is this a daily problem? Although offering a mint or piece of gum may temporarily disguise the problem, it won’t fix it. Certain foods may be the cause of temporary bad breath, but certain health conditions and daily habits may contribute to more long term problems. The simplest solution to fighting bad breath is to improve your daily oral hygiene routine. We all know that flossing is important to keeping our teeth and gums healthy, but did you know that by neglecting to floss out the bits and pieces in between your teeth, you are leaving little food particles to rot, grow bacteria, and stink up your mouth. Unfortunately, when eating certain food, good oral hygiene can only offer you a temporary solution. According to webmd.com, “as foods are digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they are eventually carried to your lungs and given off in your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing -- even mouthwash -- merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.”

Some bad breath, however, is harder to control. For example, most of us experience morning breath daily. Morning breath is caused because your mouth produces less saliva while you sleep. Saliva is important in cleaning your mouth of dead cells. Without enough saliva, the cells remain on our tongues and cheeks and begin decaying. For those who sleep with their mouth open, the problem is usually worse. This is why it is especially important to brush your tongue in the morning. You need to rid your mouth of all the dead cells to help fight the bad breath. It is also important to drink lots of water in order to avoid the dry mouth symptoms during the day.

Sicknesses can also be the culprit behind someone’s bad breath. As mucus drips and collects at the back of the throat, it creates a foul aroma and taste. Sometimes this smell and taste in ones’ mouth can be a good indicator that they are getting sick. You may think that taking a cold medicine or antihistamine to reduce the postnasal drip will fix the problem, but these medications are few leading causes of dry mouth which we just learned also causes bad breath. Other illnesses, such as, lung infections, cancers, kidney or liver failure, or even acid reflux can cause severe bad breath.

While researching bad breath I came across a very interesting fact. We are all aware that eating certain foods can cause bad breath, but did you know that the lack of food can also cause bad breath? According to the Mayo Clinic, “Dieters may develop unpleasant "fruity" breath from ketoacidosis, the breakdown of chemicals during fasting.” So what’s the solution in fighting this stinky breath? Although there isn’t a single answer, it would be smart to practice good oral hygiene, eliminate tobacco products, stay hydrated, and eat healthy food. And if your day of bad breath comes, just remember to stay out of everyone’s personal space! :-)  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!