Bad Breath Remedies
Bad Breath Remedies – Wondering if you have bad breath? Watch our video on bad breath remedies to learn how to spot if you have it and how to take care of it.
Expert: Paul Fletcher, DDS Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, Specialized Dentistry of New York
Transcript
CAN’T tell if your morning cup has left you with coffee breath? Or if those garlic knots you had for lunch are lingering? HOW can you tell if you have bad breath?
WELL…try this little trick. Lick the back of your hand or inside of your wrist a couple times – just don’t let anyone catch you doing it because, …, it looks weird. Then let the area dry a bit and give it a whiff. Now if it stinks, your breath probably does too.
An even better way to check your breath though is to ask a parent, close friend or your partner whether your breath has an offensive odor. Everyone’s breath has a scent, the KEY is whether it’s offensive or not, AND it’s important to remember…a stale taste in your mouth doesn’t mean you have bad breath.
The BEST way to eliminate sour breath though is with GOOD tooth and tongue cleaning. When food is left in the mouth, it starts to break down and can cause a ROTTING smell. So, at least once a day, brush your teeth, floss, and scrape or gently brush your entire tongue—where odor causing bacteria like to cling the most.
Also, rinse with a mouthwash containing chlorine dioxide… which actually neutralizes odors. When you can’t sneak away to brush, pop a breath mint -it will mask your bad breath for a while, but it won’t KILL the odor causing bacteria.
There are also a few other things you can try in the meantime. First: drink water. It helps rinse away food particles, AND keeps odor-causing bacteria in your mouth from getting out of control. Next, chew on sugarless gum containing XYLITOL. This artificial sweetener has been found to prevent cavities and eliminate bad breath by suppressing bacterial growth, AND it increases saliva production–your mouth’s built-in natural cleaning system. You can also try eating Crunchy foods like apples, carrots , or celery, which can HELP clear away OTHER food debris that may be sitting on your teeth.
One last secret: To help stop bad breath BEFORE it starts, eat YOGURT daily. Research has found that the live cultures in yogurt may sweeten your mouth by keeping odor-causing compounds in check.
Everything from poor dental hygiene, gum disease, and heartburn can cause chronic halitosis. But In rare cases, halitosis can be a sign of more SERIOUS conditions, such as diabetes or liver disease. If you’re not sure what’s causing the smell, visit your dentist. He or she can help pinpoint the problem and treat the source.
For more ways to keep your mouth clean and fresh, check out other videos in this series
Category: Health and Nutrition, Videos
