How to Relieve the Causes of Bad Breath

How to Relieve the Causes of Bad Breath

The first remedies probably involved chewing aromatic herbs and brushing the teeth with twigs - remedies that are still in use in some traditions today. Though not very sophisticated by today's standards, they do focus on the right objectives: mask the odor and kill off or remove the offensive bacteria that cause the odor in the first place. Many herbs not only have a strong odor but have antiseptic qualities as well.

Chemical antiseptics were a logical step in the development of a halitosis treatment, and they are still widely used today.

Antiseptics and antibiotics in mouthwashes are generally fairly effective at freshening the breath, at least in the short term. More recent experiments have explored the idea of physically removing oral bacteria with oily solutions (bacteria adhere to oil), using oxygen for bad breath producing bacteria, treating with vitamins and minerals, and making lifestyle changes. All of these approaches appear more natural and health-enhancing than using chemicals and antibiotics, and some even offer hope of a curative halitosis treatment that might banish the problem permanently.

Oxygen for bad breath is a logical approach that exploits the knowledge that most offensive breath odor is produced by anaerobic bacteria.

Anaerobic bacteria are those that live in wet enclosed spaces where there is very little air or none at all - anaerobic means no air. Some of these bacteria can tolerate a little bit of oxygen, but none of them can tolerate very much, so delivering oxygen to the mouth, and getting it to penetrate all the tiny creases, grooves, pockets, and crevices in the mouth is lethal to anaerobes. Meanwhile, the oral tissues and the friendly aerobic bacteria in the mouth are completely unharmed by this halitosis treatment - aerobes continue to flourish and multiply, replacing the bad-smelling anaerobes.

If it works as well in practice as it does in theory, oxygen for bad breath should be very effective. The challenge, of course, is to deliver oxygen molecules to the mouth and make sure that they come in contact with the anaerobes. At least one commercial halitosis treatment has developed a system that aims to do that, and the product is doing well. Though the claims for the product do not suggest that it can cure bad breath permanently, it's likely that it could be used in combination with dietary improvements and lifestyle changes to re-establish a healthy, odor free mouth.

Some cases of chronic halitosis signal a health or dental problem that needs medical attention. If oxygen for bad breath or any other over-the-counter or natural remedy fails to give satisfactory results, you should consult your dentist or family doctor to determine whether any medical testing is indicated.

To find the right solution to relieve the symptoms of bad breath, you must determine the cause.

Some causes of bad breath include: improper oral hygiene, medical prescriptions which cause dry mouth, and food trapped between the teeth.

To relieve the causes of bad breath, you should have a breath health regimen in place.

The first step is to determine whether your oral hygiene practices are good. There are proper techniques for brushing and flossing. If you are not sure that the technique you perform is the right one, check with the oral hygienist in your dentist's office.

Next, you should make sure you schedule visits with your dentist twice a year. It is important to have your teeth cleaned professionally. Also, your dentist will be able to tell if you have problems or may foresee a potential problem. They can give you advice on the preventative steps you can take.

Brushing and flossing are the basics of a good breath health regimen.

You should go a step further. Anaerobic bacteria are the cause of most bad breath. These bacteria live on and around your teeth and gum line. They do not need oxygen to thrive. They love protein from the food you eat. When you brush and floss you remove the bacteria from your teeth and the gum line.

The next step is to brush or scape your tongue. And, if you are like me, scraping the tongue can cause you to gag. There are scrapers on the market for this purpose. Most are inexpensive so you can experiment until you find the one that suits you.

Rinsing your mouth should be part of your daily routine.

Most people use a mouth wash purchased at a store. A simple rinse remedy is to dissolve about a quarter teaspoon or less of salt in lukewarm water and gargle. You may rinse your mouth only once a day and that is probably in the morning. It is a good idea to also rinse your mouth before going to bed. Since the mouth is usually closed while sleeping and anaerobic bacteria do not need oxygen, rinsing at night might be more effective.

Dry mouth is another cause of bad breath.

It can be caused by some medications such as Norvasc. Norvasc is prescribed for high blood pressure. Your doctor may be able to prescribe another medication. If not, drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist. Your saliva will help reduce the bacteria in your mouth.

Using a mouth freshener or breath mint will relieve short-term causes of bad breath.

Short-term bad breath is caused by eating certain foods such as a hamburger with onions. The mouth freshener will work but you may have to use it more than once. These odors tend to stay in the body for about 24 hours.

Do not give up the foods you love. But be aware that you may have bad breath. This can cause embarrassment when you are interacting with others.

Proper attention to your breath health regimen will help you relieve the causes of bad breath.