Reducing Bad Breath

Bad breath, morning breath, or halitosis affects 50% or more of Americans at some point in the day.  The consumption of certain foods such as garlic and onions can be a contributing factor.  These foods are absorbed into our bloodstream where they are transferred into our lungs and exhaled.  Most breath odor, however, comes from particles trapped in our mouth.  When food remains in our mouth for a long period of time it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.  Other causes of bad breath can be poor oral health, smoking, and underlying medical conditions of the stomach, lungs, or bloodstream.  Dry mouth is also a contributing factor of bad breath.  Saliva is the mouth’s natural mouthwash, and it can reduce bacteria in the mouth.  Alcohol consumption, mouth-breathing, and certain medications can contribute to dry mouth.  To help reduce bad breath situations:

1. Brush and Rinse after every meal to remove food particles.
2. Brush your tongue which is covered in thousands of tiny hairs that can trap bacteria.
3. Keep regular check-up appointments with your dentist.
4. Chew sugarless gum to increase the flow of saliva.
5. Drink plenty of water, and avoid mints and mouthwashes that contain alcohol which dries the mouth creating a more favorable environment for bacteria.
6. Snack on foods that keep plaque from forming such as celery and carrots.
7. Limit alcohol, caffeine, and certain foods that cause bad breath.
8. Quit smoking.
9. Baking soda products or hydrogen peroxide diluted with ½ water as a mouth rinse can be used to fight bacteria and bad breath.
10. Chlorophyll found in parsley is a natural breath freshener, and a few drops of peppermint or tea tree oil can be used on the tongue or toothbrush.