15 thoughts on “what’s an effective way to get rid of bad breath?”

  2. You may have sinusitis if not, may be an enfection of helicobacter pylori gastritis, you have to use H.P eradication therapy if you have HP gastritis

  3. Well unfortunatly and you don’t want to hear this but continual bad breath is called “halitosis”., in layman’s terms , bad oral hygiene teqniques. Which means , brushing your teeth 3x a day, using Listerine for 30 second after each brushing, and flossing after each brushing. Sorry , you didn’t want to hear this but it is what causes your problem. Plaque, and tartar build, which cause the bad breath problems, and a mint or gum my TEMPORARILY help the situation, it will never go away until you use proper oral hygiene.

  5. Haha…I was just about to say brush your teeth. You probably have tarter below your gumline or rodding wisdom teeth. Only a dentist can remove tartar (hardened plaque). Sometimes it’s an underlying problem such as a respiratory infection.

    Here’s some info from the net:
    Types
    Transient bad breath is a very common temporary condition caused by such things as oral dryness, stress, hunger (ketosis), eating certain foods such as garlic and onions, smoking, or poor oral hygiene. “Morning breath” is a common example of transient bad breath. Transient bad breath gradually disappears on its own, with the aid of chewing gum or brushing one’s teeth. Chronic bad breath is a more serious and persistent condition affecting up to 25% of the population in varying degrees. It can negatively impact the individual’s personal and business relationships, leading to poor self-esteem and increased stress. This condition is usually caused by persistent overpopulation of certain types of oral bacteria, primarily streptococcus mutans, and requires specialised treatment. Xerostomia (dry mouth syndrome) will increase bad breath problems.

    Fetor hepaticus is a type of severely bad breath caused by chronic liver failure.

    [edit]
    Treatment
    It is believed that bad breath is caused by anaerobic bacteria under the surface of the tongue. These bacteria thrive only in an oxygen poor, acidic environment. Because of this, two separate things need to be accomplished. First, add oxygen. Second, reduce acidity.

    To add oxygen: use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash. (use one part hydrogen peroxide (3%), and one part salty water)

    To reduce acidity: use baking soda as a toothpaste. (use three parts baking soda, to one part salt)

    This simple two step process has been found very effective by many bad breath sufferers. Those who do not find success using the above basic remedy, can go ahead and follow the advice of mainstream medical remedies, as per the following paragraph.

    Currently, chronic halitosis is not very well understood or even recognised as a treatable condition by most doctors and dentists, so effective treatment is difficult to find. There are a growing number of bad breath clinics responding to this endemic problem; unfortunately, most are simply outlets for one breath product or another. As with all general-purpose formulations, any one particular product may be effective for some, partly effective for a few, and not at all helpful for others. A very small number of clinics use a detailed assessment process including microbiology to determine the specific type or types of odour-causing bacteria. The specific bacteria are then controlled by individualised treatments. This procedure results in a very high success rate. Some who take a more holistic view of the body, including naturopaths and alternative nutritionists, believe that halitosis can be cured or greatly diminished by improving the overall health of the digestive tract, especially the small and large intestines. This process usually requires a change in eating style, lifestyle, and diet.

    [edit]
    Causes
    Though the causes of breath odour are not entirely understood, most unpleasant odors are known to arise from food debris trapped in the mouth which is processed by normal mouth flora; there are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth. Several dozen of these can cause trouble when allowed to flourish or are genetically disposed to overpopulate. Large quantities of these naturally-occurring bacteria are often found on the posterior of the tongue, where they are undisturbed by normal activity. The rough surface of the tongue dorsum provides an ideal habitat for anaerobic bacteria, which flourish under a continually-forming tongue coating of food debris, dead cells, and hundreds of thousands of bacteria, living and dead. When left on the tongue, the anaerobic respiration of such bacteria can yield either the putrescent smell of polyamines, or the “rotten egg” smell of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide, depending on the bacteria type. It is generally these compounds which, when mixed with mouth air and exhaled, produce unpleasant breath. Other causes of chronic bad breath may be periodontitis (gum disease), helminthiasis (intestinal parasitic infections), diabetes, kidney failure, sinusitis, tonsilloliths, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), trimethylaminuria (TMAU), hormonal changes, and a wide variety of prescription drugs (especially when taken on a longterm basis).

    [edit]
    Diagnosis
    One’s own breath odour is often undetectable due to habituation, although many people will have an accompanying bad taste (metallic, sour, fecal, etc) depending on oral dryness and the degree of breath odour.

    A somewhat effective home method to determine the presence of bad breath is to lick the back of the wrist, let the saliva dry for a minute or two, and smell the result. Another way would be to lightly scrape the posterior of the tongue with an inverted spoon or a piece of dental floss, and to smell the dried residue. A spouse, family member, or close friend may be willing to smell one’s breath and provide honest feedback. Highly reliable home tests are now available which use a chemical reaction to test for the presence of polyamines and sulfur compounds on tongue swabs. Remember that breath odour changes in intensity throughout the day depending on many factors, so test several times.

    If bad breath is persistent, and all other medical and dental factors have been ruled out, specialised testing and treatment is required.

    Hundreds of dental offices and breath clinics now use a portable sulfide monitor called the Halimeter to test for levels of sulfur emissions (specifically, hydrogen sulfide) in the mouth air. When used properly this device can be very effective at determining levels of certain VSC-producing bacteria. However, it has drawbacks in clinical applications. For example, other common sulfides (such as mercaptan) are not recorded as easily and can be misrepresented in test results. Certain foods such as garlic and onions produce sulfur in the breath for as long as 48 hours and can result in false readings. The Halimeter is also very sensitive to alcohol, so one should avoid drinking alcohol or using alcohol-containing mouthwashes for at least 12 hours prior to being tested. This analog machine loses sensitivity over time and requires periodic recalibration to remain accurate.

    New technology is now appearing in the form of portable gas chromatography machines such as the OralChroma, which is specifically designed to digitally measure molecular levels of the three major VSCs in a sample of mouth air (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide). It is extremely accurate and produces visual results in graph form via computer interface.

    Microbiological testing of swab samples of teeth and tongue residue remains the most accurate method of determining the specific bacterial causes of oral malodour.

    [edit]
    Home care
    Using commercial breath-freshening mouthwashes, mints, or lozenges gives only temporary relief at best, since these products only mask mouth odours for a few minutes. Rinses containing antibacterials such as chlorhexidine, zinc gluconate, or chlorine dioxide may provide better control depending on the individual. Avoid alcohol-containing rinses, since alcohol is a drying agent and will worsen the problem.

    Bad breath may be temporarily reduced by using a hydrogen peroxide rinse. Hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 1.5% can be taken as an oral antiseptic by gargling 10 ml, about two teaspoons. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly available at a concentration of 3% and should be diluted to 1.5% by mixing it with an equal volume of water. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer which kills most bacteria, including useful aerobic bacteria.

    The most effective products are generally not available in drugstores, but can be found on the internet. High-quality home breath tests and antibacterial rinses, spritzes, toothpastes, gums, mints, and tongue gels tend to be higher in price, like any premium product; but unlike the well-known inexpensive brand names, they do a much better job of controlling persistent breath problems. In the case of internet shopping for breath products, two caveats apply: the consumer must do extra research to make sure the vendor can be trusted (look for established halitosis clinics or dental supply companies); and remember that without professional assessment to guide you, there will be a certain amount of trial-and-error involved in finding the best solution for your problem.

    Brushing after meals and flossing at least once daily is necessary to remove rotting food debris from between the teeth, especially at the gumline. Gently cleaning the tongue surface twice daily with a tonguebrush, tongue scraper, or tongue cleaner will reduce this primary source of breath odour. An inverted teaspoon is also effective; a toothbrush less so, as the size and angle of the head do not allow it to reach as far as necessary. Be careful to avoid scraping the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.

    Since dry mouth can increase bacterial buildup and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Some gums, toothpastes, sprays, and gels which combat dry mouth for several hours have recently been marketed over the counter. Maintain water levels in the body by drinking several glasses of water a day. Adding lemon juice to your water is refreshing and also beneficial. Parsley is a natural breath freshener when chewed slowly, and is easy to grow at home.

    Some studies have shown that eating yogurt, drinking green tea, or chewing cinnamon or sugarless cinnamon gum can reduce bad breath.

    wikipedia

  6. Eight glasses of water throughout the day. Bad breath is caused by sulfur compounds in your mouth, and sipping water frequently helps wash away those compounds and trigger the production of breath-neutralizing saliva.

  7. Though the causes of breath odour are not entirely understood, most unpleasant odors are known to arise from food debris trapped in the mouth.

    It is believed that bad breath is caused by anaerobic bacteria under the surface of the tongue. These bacteria thrive only in an oxygen poor, acidic environment. Because of this, two separate things need to be accomplished. First, add oxygen. Second, reduce acidity.

    To add oxygen: use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash. (use one part hydrogen peroxide (3%), and one part salty water)

    To reduce acidity: use baking soda as a toothpaste. (use three parts baking soda, to one part salt)

    This simple two step process has been found very effective by many bad breath sufferers. Those who do not find success using the above basic remedy, can go ahead and follow the advice of mainstream medical remedies,

    Currently, chronic halitosis is not very well understood or even recognised as a treatable condition by most doctors and dentists, so effective treatment is difficult to find. There are a growing number of bad breath clinics responding to this endemic problem; unfortunately, most are simply outlets for one breath product or another. As with all general-purpose formulations, any one particular product may be effective for some, partly effective for a few, and not at all helpful for others. A very small number of clinics use a detailed assessment process including microbiology to determine the specific type or types of odour-causing bacteria. The specific bacteria are then controlled by individualised treatments. This procedure results in a very high success rate. Some who take a more holistic view of the body, including naturopaths and alternative nutritionists, believe that halitosis can be cured or greatly diminished by improving the overall health of the digestive tract, especially the small and large intestines. This process usually requires a change in eating style, lifestyle, and diet.

  8. most bad breath can be elimated by brushing your tongue. Also, chew on parsley (that green a lot of resturant put on your plate to make your food look prettier) or hard mints.

  9. There is a system called BreathRX that they sell in my dentists office. They have toothpaste, mouthwash and gum – it’s supposed to be really good. I’ve also heard that eating lots of fruits like strawberries and peaches helps.

  10. Brush as often as possible and make sure to brush your tounge and pallet. Rince with peroxile or a peroxide/water solution after each brushing. Floss daily. Keep popping sugar free mints and gum. But most importantly.. go to the dentist probably even a periodontist. Many times periodontal disease causes bad breath and a couple visits and deep cleanings may really help.

  12. Bad breath can originate from a number of sources:
    1)iatrogenic (from food)
    2)inadequate oral hygiene
    3)food stagnation from the tonsillar crypts
    4)gastrointestinal origin

    Knowing the cause is important in order to try to eliminate it.
    Examples of food causing bad breath, e.g. garlic, heavy spices etc.
    Poor oral hygiene can lead to stagnation and fermentation of food, especially interdentally, leading to maladour.
    Uncommonly, some people get food stagnation at lower levels of the alimentary tract. These are harder to diagnose.
    Inadequate/improper food clearance from the gastrointestinal tract can also lead to bad breath.
    People with GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux diseases) may also give rise to some degree of bad breath.

    If this is a persistent or worsening problem, it is important to see your medical / dental doctor as soon as possible to get a proper diagnosis, in order to treat it.

    Regards,
    Dental Surgeon

  13. Brush your teeth regularly and chew lots of gum.But don’t go by me,I’m no specialist.

  14. Agreed, we won’t say that one needs to brush his teeth at least twice a day.( because it is felt that anybody using this platform already knows that !!)—brushing just before retiring to bed is so very important – rather more important than the brushing after breakfast. Oh, sorry, cos’ you dont want a sermon on tooth-brushing regime. If the teeth and gums are healthy and one is brushing twice a day, then our experience shows that bad breath could be due to coated tongue or some of our food stuffs (raw onion, of course !!) could be the villians!! Anyway, make it a habit to use tongue cleaner daily cos’ the germs responsible for this obnoxious breath are present in millions and trillions in the coating of the tongue. Mouthwashes are of little help— these are just cosmetic accessories….just like our using the deodorant as an excuse for skipping a shower under fresh water…. Does that works ?? No, not at all. Same is the case with these mouthwashes. If all this does not cure your halitosis, must see a dentist/physician because there are some general diseases also which can lead to bad breath !!!( the %age of such cases is very very low!!) … So, good luck for enjoying a fresh mint breath always..

  15. When you brush your teeth, make sure you brush your tongue. You wouldn’t believe how much not brushing your tongue can cause bad breath.

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