subject: Ways of Curing Bad Breath [print this page] Bad breath is an affliction that affects approximately 1 in 4 people. With so many people suffering from this there must be a way of curing bad breath? Yes there is, and most of the cures come from sorting out the source of the problem which is the mouth. Commonly bacteria grows in the mouth. There is a large number of different varieties that co-exist in there, doing no harm at all. However, up to a dozen "aerobic" bacteria produce waste ( volatile sulfur compounds) which, when mixed with the air we exhale, create that acrid and off-putting smell. A quick and easy way to check on the state on your breath is to lick the back of your hand with your tongue. Allow the saliva to dry for a few seconds and then smell it. This is a great indication of how your breath smells to other people, and it is from this simple test that you can decide what sort of things you are going to do to go about curing bad breath. As the mouth is the source of the problem it is a good place to start. Begin by concentrating on the way you clean your teeth, tongue, gums, and sides of your mouth. Thorough brushing of your teeth at least twice a day is an effective start. However, you will also want to concentrate on the tongue which for many people is a common source. This is because the same bacteria that are causing these problems live on the tongue where dead cells and food matter collect. You can start by brushing your tongue at the same time that you are doing your teeth, however it is recommended that you invest in a tongue scraper which will go about removing the dead cells and matter that has collected. Something a toothbrush is unable to do. Also make sure that you clean your gums and the side of your mouth when brushing. Flossing regularly will remove any food matter that collects between the teeth after a meal and if left unattended can rot, which bacteria love to feed on. Try and floss at least 3 times a day - ideally after every meal. You can also use baking soda when brushing your teeth as an effective cure as this restores the pH balance in the mouth and can be done before using toothpaste. Diet is another key factor that needs to be considered when looking at ways of curing bad breath. Garlic and onion are well known offenders as they have a very strong odour. However, foods such as proteins: meat, fish seafood, eggs and dairy foods are obvious examples that bacteria will feed on. Anaerobic bacteria especially like proteins, and will produce more waste. More waste means more bad breath.
