December 15th, 2007 by Aaks
Bad breath causes an awful lot of discomfort. Not only can it actually offend people, spoil business deals, destroy a date and incinerate your self esteem, but the fear and uncertainty in that nagging thought - “Does my breath stink?” can ruin anyone’s day. First, the hideous truth. Yes, everyone gets it at least once in a while, but some people have such a great difficulty that an ordinary bad breath solution simply won’t do it for them.
What causes bad breath?
Most commonly halitosis is a result of bacterial activity primarily on the tongue - mostly in hard to reach areas, and in areas on and around the teeth. As these bacteria pig out on the food particles and plaque they find, sulfur compounds are released which cause the bad smells. However, this is only part of the story and not all of those odors coming out of the mouth are a result of bacterial activity. An appropriate bad breath solution really depends on identifying exactly what may be contributing to the problem so let’s look at some other frequent questions about bad breath causes.
How does smoking affect my breath?
Aside from the fact that a great many people find the smell of stale tobacco smoke revolting, smoking dries out your mouth and you lack the usual amount of saliva. That saliva, which you don’t have, would have acted as a sort of natural mouthwash to flush the bacteria and their wastes from your mouth. If you smoke, you will have a hard time believing just how bad you may be smelling to non-smokers since smoking tends to suppress your senses of taste and smell.
Can halitosis be caused by some foods?
You know they can. These are non-bacterial causes. The notorious ones such as onions and garlic have strong smelling molecules that can remain in our system, particularly in the lungs and then as we breath we stink up the area. Since acid reflux and halitosis are linked, avoiding greasy foods, caffeine and, regrettably, chocolate, which may cause acid reflux can be part of a bad breath solution.
What do acid reflux and halitosis have to do with each other?
Heartburn or acid reflux is a wrong way flow of stomach acids up the esophagus. Aside from being acutely unpleasant, it can deliver more food for bacteria to your mouth along with some unpleasant smelling molecules. It is an indirect relationship but it is yet another reason to resolve any heartburn problems.
Is it true that bad breath can come from my stomach?
Indeed, this can happen. What’s known as digestive halitosis results from the continuous action of our digestive enzymes. If there’s no food to digest, those enzymes start effecting the stomach lining which can create a nasty odor like rotting food which comes out in your breath. Normally it’s fairly simple to eliminate digestive halitosis since it disappears once you put some food in there for the enzymes to work on.
What are some of the remedies?
The most basic solution, in the majority of cases, revolves around reducing or eliminating odor causing bacteria in the mouth. The simplest bad breath solution is to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Flossing is important because it helps remove both plaque and any food particles that are stuck between teeth or at the gum line. Brushing assists in this process. Cleaning your tongue is particularly important since brushing it can be uncomfortable and not terribly effective. Using a tongue scraper might be a better solution. Cavities or abscesses can also be a contributing factor as well as being painful and causing tooth loss. Seeing your dentist regularly is part of good oral hygiene.
Some simple home remedies to treat the problem can also be used to reduce the effects of foods such as onions and garlic. Chewing on parsley or basil or other “greens” releases chlorophyll which is a deodorizer. Citrus fruits will not only stimulate saliva - our built-in natural mouthwash - but their acidity will kill most mouth bacteria. As an extra plus they also give your breath a tangy fresh scent.
As you’ve probably realized by now, there is no single bad breath solution. Different bad breath causes can require different remedies and taking a whole body approach will help you not only eliminate bad breath bacteria but also to take care of the other possible causes.
Bad breath doesn’t have to ruin even one more day. Discover more about simple and natural bad breath solutions that work from Bad Breath Causes and Cures now.
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Want to know a cure for bad breath? Bad breath is not only a health problem, but a social one as well. It is an embarrassment for anyone to have. But should you be suffering from bad breath, rest assured that there are cures for bad breath that are safe, natural, and effective. Specific cures for bad breath depend on the cause.
What causes bad breath?
Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria in the mouth, particularly on the surface of the tongue. It can be caused by poor dental hygiene, mouth infections, dryness of the mouth, stress, and external factors like cigarettes, smoke and coffee, among others. Less common causes of bad breath are stomach and intestinal problems, respiratory tract infections, and major body illnesses like diabetes and liver diseases.
If you feel you have bad breath, your doctor or dentist may help you identify the cause. This is helpful especially if you have halitosis, or chronic bad breath.
How to cure bad breath
Conventional cures for bad breath are antiseptic mouthwashes and medications. However, some of the best remedies for bad breath can be found in nature or in your home.
Cure For Bad Breath # 1: Mint oil is in!
You see mint in almost every breath-freshening product but the most effective and potent of all to use is arguably the peppermint oil – yes, that essential oil usually used for aromatherapy. A drop of that pure essential oil on the tongue can freshen your breath quickly and naturally.
Also helpful is tea tree oil, a powerful antiseptic normally recommended for skin problems. As this oil is quite strong, just drop a very small amount on your toothbrush and brush your teeth with it.
Cure For Bad Breath # 2: Spice is nice. Seeds, too!
While some spices like pepper can make your mouth hot (and for some, smell unpleasant), a few like cloves actually have an antiseptic effect on the mouth and are a good remedy for bad breath. You can chew on cloves or grind them and prepare them as tea.
The seeds normally used as condiments like fennel and anise seeds are good breath sweeteners. Anise, in particular, has curative properties and kills odor-causing bacteria. Since these seeds are dry and can keep for quite some time, they are convenient to carry around with you. Simply chew on them after a meal.
Cure For Bad Breath # 3: Cool off with a lemon.
Not only is lemon good for lemonade and as a household cleaning agent, it is great natural cure for bad breath as well! Suck on a slice of lemon and feel your breath cleansed and freshened instantly
Cure For Bad Breath # 4: Go green with herbs.
The chlorophyll in those green herbs are the main bad breath fighters. Aside from the usual mint leaves, other herbs with breath-freshening properties are rosemary, sage, thyme, and that ever-present garnishing in your dish - the parsley. Parsley is especially high in chlorophyll.
Keep these herbs a regular part of your diet. Or you can boil them to make tea.
As a convenient substitute, you can try chlorophyll tablets available over the counter.
Cure For Bad Breath # 5: Keep your saliva flowing.
As dryness of the mouth is one of the culprits for bad breath, just letting your saliva flow freely helps. Drinking lots of water enables your mouth to produce more saliva. It can also loosen food particles that may cause bad breath.
As the saliva gets stuck during sleeping, letting it flow again by munching on a hearty breakfast helps.
And simplest of all - talking! Talking keeps the saliva going. So keep your mouth shut only when you need to.
Cure For Bad Breath # 6: Try homeopathic remedies.
Homeopathy, a type of medicine that makes use of minerals, herbs and other substances that help a person naturally heal, can also offer a good cure for bad breath.
For severe bad breath, Mercurius and Calendula are good options. A 30X dose of Mercurius three or four times a day for 3-4 days should do the trick. This should be accompanied with daily gargling of Calendula.
Cure For Bad Breath # 7: Load up on fiber.
This is particularly recommended for bad breath related to stomach and intestinal problems. For the digestive organs to work normally, the bowels should be cleaned, and fiber works as the best natural broom for the bowels. So eat your fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
Cure For Bad Breath # 8: Cut down on high-fat, sugar-rich foods and dairy products. Eat healthy!
Again, this is true for those with stomach problems, like flatulence. Some people especially have low milk tolerance or have a hard time digesting dairy products, thus causing bad breath. Sugar, meanwhile, also poses a problem as mouth bacteria feed on sugar.
These foods are generally not good for the body, anyway, especially when consumed in large amounts. It is best to replace these with fruits and vegetables which cleanse the body and in turn, affects how your breath smells.
With these easy, natural cures for bad breath, you will stay healthy and confident to face anyone anytime!
About the Author:
Michael Lee has dramatically changed countless lives with his powerful self-improvement advice. Get free self-help success secrets & audios now at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/articlelist.html and be the next BIG success story!
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