How To Beat Bad Breath

There are a number of things that can contribute to bad breath, technically known as halitosis. Fortunately, there are rather simple solutions for most of them.

Everyone knows certain foods are likely to cause bad breath. Garlic and onions are probably the most well known offenders. It's easy to deal with bad breath caused by certain food. Just don't eat them! Or, if you do indulge, brush your teeth or pop a breath mint afterward. Problem solved!

There are many other causes of bad breath, though. The most common is, quite simply, poor oral hygiene. Many adults have never learned good oral hygiene techniques, so here's a quick refresher course.

There are a lot of bacteria in the mouth and bacteria smells bad. Because our mouths are warm and wet, bacteria grow and thrive there. Bacteria also feed on food particles left in the mouth, which is why brushing after each meal is important. .

Thorough brushing and flossing remove bacteria and go a long way toward relieving bad breath. Brush teeth daily, preferable after every meal. If you can't brush after every meal, the American Dental Association recommends brushing at least twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride. Use an up-and-down motion rather than brushing side-to-side. It can be hard to reach those back teeth, so an angled toothbrush might help.

In addition to clinging to teeth, bacteria live on our gums and tongue as well. Brush the guns and tongue while brushing teeth. There are special instruments called tongue scrapers, which do just what the name suggests; they scrape that whitish-yellow coating off your tongue. If brushing doesn't do the trick, try one of these.

Floss regularly as well to eliminate bacteria hiding between teeth. They now make these wonderful things called "floss picks," which are little plastic devices with dental floss stretched between two picks. You don't have to mess with long strings of floss wrapped around your fingers anymore. You can buy these anywhere you can buy dental floss.

Follow up with a mouthwash if you like. Look for one that contains chlorine dioxide, which will neutralize bacteria.