Bad breath?
You finally approach the babe at the bar and ask for her number. You had all the smooth moves, said all the right things, but for some reason, when you talk to her, she keeps turning her head the other way. Could it be that you splashed on too much cologne?. The words coming out of your mouth are sweet, so why does everyone cringe and back away when you speak to them? Your mother would say it was your imagination, but there might be a reason why you’re repelling your friends and colleagues: You could have a nasty case of halitosis or bad breath.
Simply put, bad breath is the result of odor-causing bacteria gorging and producing waste (or volatile sulfur compounds) in your mouth. Odor-causing bacteria are anaerobic, which means they don’t need oxygen to survive. Instead, they prefer a dry, airless environment. This is when a good dental regimen becomes important. An accumulation of plaque (the white film that appears on teeth, gums and tongues) can distort the mouth’s oxygen ratio, helping the bad guys flourish and making your breath rancid.
Well, have you checked your breath lately? You may think that only other people get halitosis, otherwise known as chronic bad breath, but 85% of people suffer from it at some time or another. And this could be that time.
So find out how to make sure you always have fresh breath and you'll be kissing those lonely nights at home goodbye.
Fresh breath, always
Visit the dentistIt's one thing to know that you have bad breath, it's quite another to get to the root of what may be causing it. Bad breath is mainly caused by a buildup of bacteria in the mouth, so going to the dentist twice a year for a routine cleaning and checkup is an important step to maintaining fresh breath.
Brush your teeth
The more you brush your teeth, the better it is for your dental hygiene, and your breath. Brush at least twice daily (in the morning and before bed) in order to remove the food particles lingering in your mouth from an entire day of eating.
You can even keep a toothbrush and toothpaste handy at your office desk, in case you're meeting important clients after a spicy Italian meal.
Brush your tongue
This may sound odd, but you would never believe how much plaque and bacteria grow on your tongue (especially way in the back), so make sure to brush your tongue as well as your teeth.
Floss
We have all been told about the importance of flossing, but so many of us neglect our gums by not flossing. Bad breath is also caused by residual food caked between your teeth and in your gum line, so make sure to floss daily.
Mouthwash
If you find that your morning breath leaves a lot to be desired (don't worry, most of us don't want to be kissed in the morning), then add mouthwash to your daily routine to protect your teeth and give your mouth a minty fresh smell.
The bacterium that causes bad breath feeds on protein, and whether it finds its sustenance in a steak sandwich or the naturally occurring protein in your saliva, you can never fully remove its food source. There are foods other than meat, however, that can either provide a meal for odor-causing bacteria or a friendly environment for them to grow in. We’ve listed some of the most common offenders below.
Carry breath mints and gum
Hey, if you can't avoid the problem all the time, then just blast your bad breath with some mints and gum. Perfect for emergency situations, these will encourage any woman to share breathing space with you.
For extra-strength bad breath busters, there are over-the-counter pills to help prevent stinky breath. And Listerine has recently come up with dissolving sheets that act as a mouthwash.
Parsley
This natural ingredient is said to fight malodorous breath, so if you're having some garlic bread and pasta, make the most of parsley (if you can find some) and chew on it once you're done eating.
Water
If you have halitosis, drinking a glass or two of water may go a long way toward freshening that pungent reek. Water can flush out food particles that remain in the mouth after meals, along with stimulating saliva production and generally making your mouth a cleaner, less attractive place for bacteria to grow.
Avoid cigarettes, coffee and alcohol
You can always treat the problem via its roots, and avoid bad breath-inducing foods such as garlic, pizza, onions, and spicy foods while on a hot date, reduce your intake of alcohol and coffee, and smoke fewer cigarettes.
Breathe through your nose
Another cause of bad breath is lack of salivary flow (dry mouth), so try breathing through your nose in order to avoid making your mouth dry and crusty.
Check it out
If you want to save yourself the embarrassment of walking around with bad breath, ask someone close to you, such as a family member or friend, whether your breath smells okay.
See a physician
Bad breath is also linked to illness, stress, stomach problems, low fluid intake, and other conditions, so if your bad breath persists, consult a physician to see if an underlying problem exists.
Why it may have been caused
The bacterium that causes bad breath feeds on protein, and whether it finds its sustenance in a steak sandwich or the naturally occurring protein in your saliva, you can never fully remove its food source. There are foods other than meat, however, that can either provide a meal for odor-causing bacteria or a friendly environment for them to grow in. We’ve listed some of the most common offenders below.
Dairy
Cheese and other dairy products are typically high in protein, giving bacteria that cause bad breath a smorgasbord of material to turn into smelly waste.
Alcohol
Because alcohol is a drying agent, or desiccant, it slows down your mouth’s saliva production, helping to make a perfect environment for odor-causing bacteria to flourish.
Sugar
In a rancid-breath double whammy, sugar can both provide a food source for bacteria and give you a good start toward tooth decay.
Garlic
Garlic, with its high sulfur content, is one of the most notorious bad breath offenders around, and for good reason. When you eat it you will most certainly get bad breath, and it will perhaps even give a particularly nasty tinge to the smell of your sweat.
Halitosis is something that can be treated and avoided altogether with these easy tips, so if a woman turns away when you're talking to her and you know you're chewing on a piece of gum, then maybe you just have a piece of spinach in your teeth, but that's for another time...
This was a very brief guide on getting rid of bad breath. If you’re looking for more information, you will definitely want to check out "Living Bad Breath Free" or "The Bad Breath Report", which contains a much more in-depth approach to cover the areas this small article can’t reach.
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