Bad breath can be a big problem, especially when you’re about to snuggle up with your loved one or whisper a joke to your friends.
Bad breath occurs when bacteria eat leftover food in the mouth and produce foul-smelling compounds. Bad breath can be caused by health conditions such as dietary habits (especially foods containing harsh fats such as garlic and onions), heartburn and high blood sugar, and smoking is also a major cause of bad breath.
There are many myths about dealing with bad breath. Here are three things you may have heard about bad breath that aren’t true:
Myth 1: If you brush your teeth, you won’t have bad breath
The truth is that most people only brush their teeth for 30 seconds or so, which is actually not very effective. To adequately clean all surfaces of your teeth, you should brush at least twice a day for at least 2 minutes each time. Remember to brush your tongue too – bacteria love to hang out there. It’s also important to floss, as brushing alone won’t remove harmful plaque and food debris stuck between your teeth and gums.
Myth 2: Mouthwash will eliminate bad breath
Mouthwash only eliminates bad breath temporarily. If you do use a mouthwash, look for one that is imprinted with the American Dental Association (ADA) (kills bacteria that cause bad breath) and reduces plaque. When deciding which dental products to put in your shopping cart, it’s best to look for ADA products.
Myth 3: If you breathe into your hand, you’ll know when you have bad breath
No! When you breathe, you don’t use your throat the way you do when you speak. When you talk, you tend to emit odors from the back of your mouth (where bad breath originates), and you can’t do that with just breathing. Additionally, it can be difficult for a person to tell if they have bad breath because we tend to get used to our own odor.
If you are concerned about bad breath, make sure you take proper care of your teeth and mouth. Chewing some sugar-free gum and mints can also mask the odor temporarily.
How to prevent bad breath
There are several ways to get rid of bad breath:
- Maintaining good oral hygiene, such as brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages, foods that cause bad breath and tobacco products.
- Chew sugar-free gum.
- If you wear dentures, retainers and mouth guards, clean them regularly.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat.
Your breath may be smelly for a number of reasons, including the consumption of certain foods, smoking, and other causes.
But, you can maintain good oral hygiene and prevent bad breath if you brush regularly, floss and control your consumption of foods that can cause bad breath.