Bad Breath - A Bigger Problem Than Most People Think

First impressions mean a lot. When you meet someone for the first time, go out on a job interview or a first date, you want to make sure you have fresh breath.

Bad Breath is a bigger problem than most people realize. More than 90 million people suffer from chronic bad breath, which is also known as halitosis.

Many people experience bad breath because they are not exercising proper dental hygiene. Bacteria and decaying food particles in the mouth are the one of the most common causes of bad breath. This is why taking care of your teeth, including regular brushing and flossing is extremely important.

Many people only brush their teeth, but that is not enough. I suggest that people also need to lightly brush their tongues. This will get rid of bacteria and tiny food particles that can become trapped in the millions of filaments on the tongue.

I also recommend that people clean their tongues daily with either a toothbrush, the edge of a spoon or a tongue cleaner. They should also regularly brush retainers, mouth guards or any other oral device before putting them back in their mouths.  

Waterpicks or irrigators also clean areas around teeth that may be hard to reach with a regular toothbrush or dental floss. This will also help reduce bad breath.

Many people think they can get rid of their bad breath with mouthwash. Although mouthwash masks the odor, it is not enough to get rid of the problem all the time.

Many people take medications that cause dry mouth, another leading cause of bad breath. Saliva is one of the best remedies for bad breath. Saliva production slows during sleep, which is why most people wake up in the morning with what we call “morning breath.” This results from odors and particles lingering the mouth while we sleep.

Believe it or not, saliva production dramatically increases when chewing gum. More saliva results in fewer bacteria in the mouth because saliva contains antiseptic and enzymes that kill bacteria.