5 Ways To Fight Halitosis
by Christy Long
Unfortunately, bad breath is something everyone deals with, whether it's stale morning breath or garlic-scented after-dinner breath. Nevertheless, there are some people who suffer from chronic halitosis. Their bad breath seems to linger not matter what time of day it is.
Halitosis is caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) that are emitted by oral bacteria. Here are five ways to help lessen or eliminate halitosis:
Rinse with Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is antiseptic; it kills the germs that cause bad breath. To use the solution as a mouth rinse, dilute the peroxide with an equal amount of water.
As you rinse your mouth, you may notice that the solution quickly foams. The foam is caused by a release of oxygen. This is important because anaerobic bacteria are often responsible for many of the VSCs in your mouth, and these bacteria cannot live in the presence of oxygen.
Scrape Your Tongue
Every morning, take a spoon or a tongue scraper, and rake it gently across your tongue gently after you finish brushing your teeth. This helps to remove the leftover odor-producing bacteria that your toothbrush didn't pick up. In addition, some toothbrushes have a ridged surface on the back that is designed to clean your tongue.
Use Mouthwash
Mouthwash can also be helpful. However, even though alcohol kills germs, try to find one that is alcohol-free to minimize the irritation to the soft tissues of your mouth. In addition, antibacterial ingredients, such as chlorhexidine, can help eliminate smelly microbes.
Drink Lots of Fluids
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Fluids help to rinse away food particles that could putrefy if left in place. In addition, oral bacteria can be flushed away as you drink.
Stop Smoking
Along with all the other health problems that accompany tobacco use, bad breath can stem from smoking.
If you do choose to smoke, be sure to brush your teeth often throughout the day. In addition, chew gum to freshen your breath. If you choose gum that includes xylitol, it will even kill oral bacteria as you chew.
If you suffer from chronic halitosis, there are multiple ways to improve your breath. To learn more about fighting bad breath, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area today. He or she can assess the state of your mouth and identify the underlying cause of your bad breath so that an effective remedy can be prescribed.
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About Me
I was very unhappy with the way that my front teeth looked. They were crooked and stained with an ugly yellow tint. I asked my dentist if there was anything that could be done to improve them. After discussing the options with my dentist, I decided to have crowns put on my front teeth. The procedure was painless and I wish that I had done it sooner. My name is Constance Graham and I am writing this blog to inform others about cosmetic dentistry. If you don’t like the way your teeth look, speak to your dentist about improving your smile. There are various cosmetic procedures that you can have done such as veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, and dental implants. I hope you use the information in this blog to learn more about cosmetic dentistry and how it can help you.