A number of factors can influence the appearance of bad breath in your mouth, also referred to as halitosis. It may be an indication of poor oral hygiene, gum disease, tobacco use or dry mouth. To alleviate yourself of bad breath, improve your dental cleaning routine, avoid foul-smelling foods, mask odors in other fragrances and keep your mouth hydrated.
Mouthwash
Bad breath often results from the gassy byproducts of bacteria that live in your mouth. As they feed on debris caught between your teeth and bask in the warm temperatures of your tongue, they multiply, increasing the amount of sulfurous gas and acidic wastes they produce.
One way to treat this, according to a February 2004 article in the "Journal of Clinical Periodontology," is to regularly use a mouthwash before going to sleep. The article followed 12 dental students who stopped brushing and flossing their teeth, only using a basic antiseptic mouthwash to kill mouth bacteria. The results suggest that mouthwashes effectively reduce morning breath better than using no cleaning method at all. Therefore, make use of an antiseptic mouthwash at least once in the morning and once at night or as the directions on the bottle recommend.
Flossing and Brushing
Mouthwash alone cannot fully relieve you of bad breath and halitosis. In addition to regular rinsing, you will need to further eliminate bad breath by flossing and brushing. The Mayo Clinic says flossing helps remove food particles stuck between teeth as well as remove plaque from tooth enamel. Also, develop the habit of brushing the tongue, or using a tongue scraper, to remove any remaining food debris, bacteria and dead mouth cells. The Mayo Clinic says the bulk of odor-producing bacteria live near the back of your throat, so scrub as far back as you can reach without gagging.
Avoid Odorous Foods
Certain foods, such as onion and garlic, immediately hit the bloodstream and enter into the lungs. As a result, every time you breathe, your breath smells of them. Therefore, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends avoiding foul-smelling foods, especially if you expect to have up-close communication with another person.
Cover up Bad Breath
To temporarily eliminate extremely bad breath, Medline Plus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, suggests chewing on fresh parsley or having a mint. Peppermint and cinnamon herbs added to chewing gum and breath mints can help overpower fouler smelling odors. Use them whenever proper dental hygiene remains unavailable.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
Your saliva contains antiseptic properties that help fight bacteria and wash away leftover food products. As you dehydrate, however, the bacteria in your mouth overproduce. Consequently, the Mayo Clinic advises you to stay hydrated or chew gum to stimulate saliva production.
