Preventing Halitosis: Bad Breath Causes and Cures

We all get it, but most of us don’t know if we have it when we do get it.

Bad breath or halitosis can show up anytime, anyplace. For some, it is a minimal bout that can easily be remedied with a mint or stick of gum while for others it becomes an olfactory assault. Halitosis can also be a sign of your body trying to tell you that something may be wrong. Either way, no one wants it and preventing halitosis with these bad breath causes and cures just may do the trick so you don’t knock someone over every time you open your mouth.

It May Be Your Chompers

Dental health is something many people take for granted. If left to its own devices your teeth, tongue and gums could turn into a cauldron of stink. A majority of halitosis issues come from poor dental habits and tend to right themselves once a flossing, tongue scrapping and correctly brushing protocol is set into place.

Here’s a reminder or eye-opener if you haven’t been earning your dental merit badge.

Brush – It’s twice a day for you, after meals. Not once a day and not for thirty-seconds. Three times is optimal and choosing the right brush is also just as important. Soft to medium is best and take it easy, you’re not scrubbing to find a secret message. Use any toothpaste you like but apply it in even strokes with not too much pressure for about one to two minutes. Be sure to gently brush the gums too bringing much needed circulation to teeth roots. All of this kills bacteria and reduces halitosis.

Floss – Morning and night. Enough said.

Tongue Scrape – It is estimated that 50% of mouth bacteria resides on the tongue. Gently using professional tongue scrapping tool found in many pharmacies will remove an impressive amount of bad breath feeding debris.

An Apple a Day

Sure, sometimes eating an apple can inadvertently scrub your teeth but it’s apple cider vinegar that has some mouth enhancing capabilities. When you rinse your mouth with this vinegar it changes the pH balance of your oral cavity.

It increases the acidity making it more difficult for halitosis causing bacteria to survive. Plus, apple cider vinegar has been shown to also reduce bacteria that can cause a sore throat or possibly strep throat. Talk to your dentist before using apple cider vinegar. It has a strong taste so you may want to dilute with water.

Stop Taking Everything So Seriously

Here it is again, the word you hear when no one has a tangible answer, it’s stress. There is a physical transformation that can occur inside your mouth when you are stressed out. It is known as an increase of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC). These compounds bubble up and release foul smelling gas on a microscopic level with a macroscopic stench.

Work on de-stressing your life by incorporating practices such as mindful breathing, yoga, meditation, exercise or anything else that is healthy and releases all that pent up pressure that’s taxing your system, especially your breath.

Check Your Meds

Saliva is a major proponent of eliminating bad breath and certain medications result in a dry mouth side effect. If you have bad breath you cannot shake and are taking medication, check its side effects. If dry mouth is a side effect talk to your doctor about some over-the-counter (OTC) saliva stimulating fixes.

Could Be Your Gut

When you eat a sub-par, processed food, high sugar diet chances are you can become a Petri dish for bacteria. This bacteria is often in the form of bad bacteria that stews and bakes in your gut only to result in some gaseous breath residue.

Clean up your diet by eating more live produce (fruits, vegetables) and limited meat and dairy. In addition, talk to your doctor about adding daily probiotics (taken on an empty stomach) to replenish good gut bacteria.

Bad Breath Alarm

One sign of pending, acute or chronic illness is foul breath. According to an article by U.S. News, “Kidney failure produces a fishy smell and uncontrolled diabetes generates fruity fumes.” If your bad breath just won’t go away no matter what you do see your doctor for a physical.

Oil Pull

Oil pulling has a long history that some say can cure bad breath and enhance oral hygiene. Simple put a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for about five to ten minutes. The theory is that the lauric acid in the coconut oil is a natural antimicrobial, anti-fungal and antibacterial which enhances many facets of oral health.

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry it was concluded that, “In this study, oil pulling therapy has been equally effective like chlorhexidine [a prescribed synthetic] against halitosis and organisms which are associated with halitosis.”

Preventing halitosis with these bad breath causes and cures just may be what you need to freshen up your act. Keep your oral cavity and the rest of your systemic health in good shape and you’ll be breathing out rose bouquets in no time.