In many social circles, having bad breath is a disgrace in itself, but what's even worse is not being aware that you do have it. This can lead to extr...
In many social circles,
having bad breath is a disgrace in itself, but what's even worse is not being aware that you do have it. This can lead to extremely embarrassing situations. To avoid such circumstances, you should always perform a freshness test each time you are planning to attend a party or any social function.
Most people check their breath by breathing on their hands. If your breath is really foul, then this method might work. But to really diagnose even the not-so-serious cases of bad breath, you can try this proven technique. Simply lick the inside of your wrist with the furthest part of your tongue as possible. After about 5 seconds, hold your wrist near your nose and take a whiff. If there is even a slightly unpleasant smell, then you do have bad breath. Sometimes this can be a temporary situation, other times it can be chronic, which is also known as halitosis.
Having bad breath can easily be avoided if you just make it habit to brush and floss regularly. You must brush your teeth after each meal and while doing so, brush your gums and tongue too. Afterwards, always gargle with a good mouthwash, but choose one that does not contain alcohol.
Just doing the above practices regularly will greatly reduce your risk of having bad breath. Once you've made it a habit to clean your mouth properly, this will prevent the buildup of food particles in the mouth, thus reducing the accumulation of foul-smelling oral bacteria that feeds on these particles. The mouthwash, especially those that have no alcohol components, will also help retain your mouth's freshness while ensuring the continuous flow of saliva that keeps away these smelly bacteria.
Another way to prevent the onset of bad breath is by staying away from sulfur-rich foods like onions and cabbage, which can result in the unmistakable rotten egg smell when digested. Spicy foods like garlic, chili or curry can also leave a pungent odor in your mouth and digestive tract so you may want to avoid these as well, especially if you have plans of going out on a date or a meeting with business clients. However, consuming these foods from time to time is fine as the bad breath they cause is only temporary and will fade in just a few hours especially if you brush and gargle immediately after eating.
There are other types of bad breath though that can be harder to get rid off, like those that stem from internal illnesses such as diabetes. Diabetic people tend to have weaker immune systems, which makes them more susceptible to gum diseases. Most of these gum diseases are manifested by bad breath that won't go away despite regular brushing and gargling with a strong mouthwash.
These types of halitosis require a more intensive treatment method. Usually, you will have to see your dentist for a treatment that works. The easiest way, though, to eliminate these types of bad breath, is to get to the root of the problem and treat your gum disease. Once the gum infections are gone, the bad breath will automatically disappear as well.
If you do not know where your halitosis is coming from, and it is persistent no matter how many times you brush your teeth, you should seriously consider asking for professional help. If you're like most people, you're probably too embarrassed to ask even your dentist about it. In this case, you can use Google to search for the National Medical Society's online halitosis questionnaire. Here, you will be asked to fill in certain information about your bad breath condition, and they will give you a recommended treatment method.
However, it is still better if you can overcome your embarrassment and go straight to your dentist's clinic. They will surely be able to diagnose your condition more thoroughly and will be able to provide you with the necessary treatment procedures and medications to cure your halitosis. If you are not a fan of artificial preparations, you can also request your dentist for an herbal treatment or simply a diet plan you can follow that can prevent the occurrence of bad breath.
Once you've gotten a prescription from your dentist, all you have to do is buy the necessary medications to begin your treatment. Again, many people might be embarrassed to purchase these items at the local pharmacy, mainly because of the unfortunate social stigma attached to having bad breath. The good news is that you can purchase these halitosis medications online. Hundreds of sites based all over the world sell dental products. If you find one that is located in your city or state, they might even deliver the items for free. You can even compare prices and brands without worrying that you will be judged for your condition.
A bonus of shopping online for halitosis medications is that while you're at it, you can also do some research on other ways to prevent the occurrence of bad breath. You can get some inside information by going through dental journals that are available for public viewing.
