Preventing and Treating Bad Breath

Everyone suffers from bad breath (known medically as halitosis) every now and then. Tobacco, and foods like garlicky pasta, can turn breath from fresh to stale or even stinky — but improper or lax toothbrushing can also be a culprit.

Proper toothbrushing matters because sloppy oral care can leave food particles behind. These collect bacteria, which can cause bad breath. And smoking dries out your mouth, meaning there’s less saliva to wash away food debris and bacteria. The result is halitosis. Halitosis can also be caused by pungent foods like garlic and onions, because after food is digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, it’s carried to the lungs, where you exhale it until your body eliminates it. For some foods, this can take up to 72 hours!

Home Remedies for Bad Breath

While popping a mint into your mouth or rinsing with mouthwash can mask bad breath, those are only temporary fixes. To prevent halitosis from occurring in the first place, try these tips:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day, for two to three minutes at a time, and don’t forget to brush your tongue. Even better, use a tongue scraper, available at many drugstores; because the tongue is spongy, a scraper will remove more bacteria than the bristles of your toothbrush will. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months. To remove food particles from between your teeth, floss or use an interdental cleaner daily. If you wear dentures, take them out and clean them thoroughly every day.
• Drink lots of water to stimulate the flow of saliva and keep your mouth moist (“morning breath” is the result of saliva production slowing as you sleep). You can also stimulate saliva by chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy.
• Don’t smoke. If you want help kicking the habit, ask your doctor or dentist to recommend a smoking cessation program.
• Say “no thanks” to garlic, onions, and other foods with strong odors when you’re trying to make a good impression.
• Get regular dental exams. See your dentist at least twice a year to have your teeth checked and cleaned.

Treating Bad Breath

To find the cause of persistent bad breath, make an appointment with your dentist. The culprit may be periodontal (gum) disease, which is caused by plaque, the colorless, sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. If it’s not brushed away every day, plaque can irritate your gums and lead to tooth decay and bad breath. Once gum disease is treated, bad breath disappears. If dry mouth is the problem, your dentist may prescribe an artificial saliva or oral medication.

If your dentist gives you a clean bill of health and your breath still seems off-putting, see your doctor. Sometimes bad breath is sign of a medical condition such as an infection in the throat, nose, or elsewhere in the respiratory tract. It can also be caused by a gastrointestinal problem, diabetes, or serious kidney and liver disorders. Certain medications can also affect your breath.

But in most cases, all it takes to banish bad breath is to adopt healthy habits. And knowing that your breath is fresh and clean can boost your confidence as you go about your daily activities.