By Nancy Sim

Halitosis, otherwise known as bad breath, is much more complex to cure than most assume - mints or mouthwash just don’t cut it. The following information will help you become a little more knowledgeable about what’s happening in your mouth and how to possibly cure it!

Causes:

• Odor-producing bacteria: the bacteria in your mouth essentially come from the food that you eat. It is often the case that not everything you eat will go directly to your stomach, which means that bits and pieces may stay in between the crevices of your teeth. If these bits and pieces aren’t removed they will eventually collect enough bacteria to produce an unattractive odor. Therefore, since brushing your teeth after every meal seems a tad inconvenient, remember to always have floss available.
• Sulfur compounds: are the parts of the bacteria that create the stench. These accumulated within the bacteria and are then released in your mouth causing your breath to smell.
• Garlic/onions: Watch out! Garlic and onions, which unfortunately make most food products taste absolutely delicious, contain extremely pungent oils that head straight for your lungs and subsequently out through your mouth.
• Constipation - the improper movement of food while in the digestive system - is also another cause of oral odor as food can literally back up into your mouth!
• Sometimes bad breath can be caused by a common infection called Catarrh (a.k.a. way too much mucus). Catarrh can be the result of an allergic reaction, colds or a bacterial infection.

Myths:

• Mouthwash gets rid of bad breath: False information alert! Your mouth wash’s ability to stop bad breath is merely temporary. Studies show that alcohol in the mouthwash actually makes your breath worse because of its ability to allow bacteria to thrive. Although, in some cases, mouthwash may be helpful, when purchasing a bottle buy one with the word “antiseptic” (as in kills bacteria) on the label and the seal of the dental association of your region is a good idea.
• Just brush your teeth: Again, simply brushing your teeth once or twice a day won’t cut it. People tend to spend only about 30-40 seconds in the morning and evening brushing their teeth when they really should be brushing for 2-3 minutes. Because of the enhancement in food technology, more chemicals are being put into our foods, thus, it is important to keep up with the technology that helps keep these chemicals from affecting our health such as flossing, professional teeth cleaning, and etc.
• If you breathe into your hand, you’ll know when you have bad breath! When you breathe into your hand, you’re actually smelling, the breath that is coming from your throat. This breath is not the same breath that comes out when you actually talk, which means they can definitely have different odors. So, the next time you’re unsure, just pop a mint and your breath will be taken care of for at least the next 15 minutes.

Real answers/cures:

• Floss – personally I hate flossing but it has to become part of your routine when you suffer from bad breath.
• Remember, bacteria from your food, not only attacks your teeth but your tongue as well. In order to best remove the bacteria located on the tongue, you should purchase a very inexpensive plastic device - the tongue-scrapper. It is very effective at removing the plaque from the top of your tongue and should be used once a day.
• Catarrh related bad breath can be best dealt with by taking a course of antibiotics as well as keep up with the daily hygienic routines such as brushing, flossing and tongue scrapping.
• If you wake up every morning with a dry mouth, it is most likely the case that you sleep with your mouth open. Mouth breathing can lead to nasal stuffiness which can then lead to Catarrh. To cure this, just make sure you sleep with your mouth closed and if that is simply impossible then follow the steps to help deal with Catarrh.
• Constipation related bad breath requires the constipation to be cured. Try to drink as much water as possible and take in plenty of fiber, you should really think about consulting a nutritionist or your doctor.
• As for the garlic and onions, simply avoid when you have a date or an interview.