Most bad breath is because of the bacterial activity in your mouth. This is also know as bacterial halitosis. This activity is encouraged when food particles remain in your mouth. The common areas are between the teeth, at the back of your tongue, and on your gums.
By brushing and flossing after every meal you can begin to eliminate these causes of bacterial halitosis, and sweeten your breath. When the little pieces of food start to rot, it will start to breed bacteria and the bacteria will begin to emit Volatile Sulfur Compounds that gives you the smell associated with bacterial halitosis. The bacteria may also cause gingivitis and other gum diseases which is also one of the causes of bad breath.
There are various specific smells associated with the substances released by the actions of the bacteria in your mouth.
- If your breath has the smell of old socks, then the compounds are mainly methly mercaptan;
- hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs
- Putrescine and Cadaverine reminds one of an old garage.
How You Can Prevent Bacterial Halitosis
There are a few simple ways to to prevent the bacteria in your mouth from causing halitosis. Take the few simple actions below to quickly deal with bacterial halitosis
* Brush your teeth after each and every meal. Baking powder toothbaste helps keep the bacteria in your mouth at bay. Make sure you brush along the gum line as well as the tooth surface. Every time you brush your teeth, always remember to lightly brush your tongue.
* Eating fruit and vegetables actually helps clean the teeth. Eat more of them.
* Flossing between the teeth, at least once a day, is a great way to fight bacteria and prevent other forms of tooth decay and gum disease.
* If you have dentures, clean them nightly. Disinfect them every night, along with brushing to remove stuck materials. Also clean retainers and removable braces on a regular basis. Do not forget to follow the instructions the dentist gave you.
* If your mouth gets dry, drink more water to stay hydrated.
* A visit with the dentist for a cleaning every 6 months is very beneficial.
* A majority of mouthwashes don’t have a long lasting effect on bacterial halitosis. Gargle with mouthwash at lease 30 seconds before spitting it out.
Take Action To Get Results
There are seven ways to eliminate bacterial halitosis. My challenge to you is to select two of those methods and follow them for the next two weeks. You will notice a marked improvement in your breath. Keeping good oral hygiene is the key to a fresh breath. It’s easy to get rid of bacterial halitosis by keeping your mouth clean. There are even more ways to have a fresh breath than what I’ve outlined here. If you have good oral hygiene, but still have bad breath, there may be some other cause. You can read more about natural bad breath remedies by selecting any of the articles in the menu.
