16 August 2009

10 Tips to have a Fresh Breath

Bad breath is experienced by most people at some time. It may simply be “morning breath” but can be a persistent chronic condition which affects a person’s everyday life and confidence.
It is almost always caused initially by poor oral hygiene leading to a build up of excess bacteria in the mouth and which gives off smelly gases.

View Top 10 Tips below that will help keep your breath fresh and clean!

1. Keep your tongue clean
Gently brush it with a soft nylon toothbrush after you brush your teeth.

2. Drink More Water!
The drier your mouth, the worse your breath gets

3. Keep Calm
Stress makes your breath worse!

4. Avoid breath mints and/or gum that contain sugar
These actually make your breath worse

5. Don’t try to kill the odor of bad breath with another odor
This is what most of the ‘Big Name’ oral care companies would like you to believe works

6. Blow your nose more often
Your breath gets worse when you have a cold, allergies, or post-nasal drip

7. Don’t use mouthwash with alcohol or toothpaste that has sodium lauryl sulfate
Do you have any idea how many oral care products contain these two ingredients? Here’s a hint, just about all of them

8. Drink plenty of water when taking prescription medications
Many of these medicines make your mouth extremely dry

9. Stop Smoking
It will give you bad breath in a nanosecond, but may only take 20 years to kill you!

10. And finally, The Best Way to Eliminate & Prevent Bad Breath
Use Clinically Proven Oxygenating Oral Products.

Halitosis - A Foul Smell From Your Mouth



Halitosis also known as bad breath is one of the problems which many people face. It gives out a disgusting feeling when you encounter such a person with bad breath. The origin of the word halitosis is derived from a Latin word. Bad breath as we must have learnt in school is that, if we do not brush our teeth properly they will rot due to the bacteria.

Rotten food in your mouth just makes things worse. But this cannot be the only reason for bad breath. The lung abscess at the time of bronchitis also causes bad breath. Some of the serious illnesses give out different kinds of odor. Conclusions have been drawn for the bad odor is due to poor digestion too.

Saliva plays a very important part in keeping the odor under check. Saliva regulates the odor by washing away food particles and other unwanted junk which creates bad breath. Morning breath usually smells as the salivary glands become sluggish leading to a bad breath. This would help if you have a proper breakfast and the people who skip their breakfast please beware.

Certain foods also cause bad breath such as onions, coffee, and garlic. Too much spice also creates bad odor. Some of these smells may not leave your breath even after 72 hours of digestion. So reducing the intake of these products may help in some form and you may have a much tolerable breath.

Some of the common and basic things or rules you can follow to have a good breath are:

* Brush regularly
* Use dental floss or mouthwash, if that helps
* Go to your dentist at least twice in year to get a thorough check up
* Clean your mouth after eating or drinking milk products
* Chew sugar free gum to moisten your mouth
* Eating fresh and fibrous vegetables would also help
* Drink plenty of water or fluids (which excludes coffee, tea and other sugar added drinks)
*Avoid alcoholic drinks to prevent bad breath

Facts About Bad Breath

We have all had an experience where you have been required to speak to someone and you have been unable to concentrate on their response because of their bad breath. The medical term for this condition is known as halitosis and there can be a number of causes for it. However, the end result is always the same and it can be described as the presence of foul smelling gases in exhaled air.


So, what causes this to happen? Well, there are two main types of halitosis and one is easier to explain than the other.

1- The first type is called transient bad breath and this can be caused as a result of a number of factors. Having a dry mouth, which can be due to thirst, stress or nerves, can cause bad breath as can certain food stuffs. Strong smelling food such as garlic, onion or other heavily spiced dishes can linger on the breath of the person who consumed it. Smoking is another factor which can cause bad breath and poor oral hygiene is a sure way to halitosis.

Saliva is able to kill a certain degree of bacteria in the mouth but it does need to be helped by the use of toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash. The most common form of transient bad breath is commonly known as morning breath. This occurs as a result of your mouth remaining relatively still for a long period of time and so your saliva production is slowed drastically and the bacteria build up overnight. Brushing your teeth in the morning removes the bacteria and so removes the odor.

2- The second type is the chronic bad breath which is a more serious condition and it is persistent and difficult to treat. It can affect up to 25% of the population and is caused as a result of certain types of bacteria being produced in excessive amounts.

For many, bad breath is seen as something comical and people who suffer from it are ridiculed and avoided. However, for the sufferers themselves it can cause real psychological difficulties. Many find it difficult to form relationships and even to speak to people as they are conscious of the odor. They can become very depressed and withdrawn.

For those whose bad breath is of the transient type, many things can be done to rid yourself of it. It is known that the majority of smells come from bacteria produced by food debris which is trapped in the mouth. Following a good oral hygiene routine, including brushing and flossing these pieces of food and so prevent the bacteria from building up. Using mint flavored mouth washes, chewing gum and lozenges can mask the problem briefly but do not rid the cause permanently. However, if you are on the go they can be beneficial until you are able to clean your teeth thoroughly.