Bad breath, or halitosis, originates in your mouth. Food that you eat gets stuck on your tongue, around your gums and in-between your teeth. If you don't floss or brush your teeth regularly, the remnants of these foods can rot. These rotten bits of food can help bacteria grow inside your mouth and cause a bad odor. These microorganisms can cause gingivitis, which also causes bad breath. Halitosis can also indicate a health problem. Chronic infections of the lungs, kidney or liver disease, diabetes and sinus infections are common medical conditions that may cause halitosis. Having bad breath can be very embarrassing, especially if you are talking to someone or plan on going to a job interview. Luckily there are many methods of eliminating bad breath.
Step 1
Take a sugar-free breath mint to quickly eliminate bad breath. You can buy breath mints at any 24-hour convenience store, liquor store, gas station or small and large chain pharmacies.
Step 2
Rinse your mouth with one ounce of antibacterial mouthwash. Swish it around your mouth for about one minute to instantly eliminate bad breath. Antibacterial mouthwashes contain chemicals that can kill bacteria that causes bad breath as well as mask the odors generated by potent foods such as onions and garlic.
Step 3
Chew a stick of sugar-free cinnamon gum such as Wrigley's Big Red cinnamon gum. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago claim that cinnamon oil used for flavoring in this gum can diminish the mouth bacteria that causes bad breath.
Step 4
Drink a glass of water to moisturize and wash your mouth of bacteria to temporarily get rid of bad breath. Having a dry mouth can cause bacteria to become more concentrated in your saliva, and they tend to evaporate faster in the air. When this happens, bad breath becomes stronger and more noticeable at farther distances.
Step 5
Brush your teeth and floss after eating every day to help reduce bad breath. If you floss and brush properly and consult your dentist for regular teeth cleaning, but your bad breath persists, your bad breath may be caused by gum disease or sinusitis. Consult your dentist or physician if you suspect a problem. They will be able properly diagnose the cause of prolonged bad breath and help you properly treat it.
Things You'll Need
- Breath mint
- Mouthwash
- Sugar-free cinnamon gum
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
