Bad breath is very common among people these days. There are several factors that usually contribute to a stinking breath, and these factors range from controllable to non-entirely controllable.
Poor dental hygiene, gum disease, cavities, and coated tongue are definitely listed as a controllable cause of bad breath, but apart from them, there are other ones one may not really have a control of, like malnutrition, uncontrolled diabetes, and dry mouth.
There are also other known causes like infections, like sore throat, sinusitis, and intestinal disorders, like heartburn, ulcers, and lactose intolerance.
The type of food we eat sometimes, like garlic, onions, coffee, cigarette smoking and alcohol can temporarily cause bad breath.
Irrespective of the cause, it is very curable, and that only starts from trying to check the underlying cause of the condition. Take a look at 10 ways to stop bad breath.
1. Drink plenty of water and swish cool water around in your mouth. This is especially helpful to freshen ‘morning breath’.
2. Brush after every meal and floss, preferably twice a day.
3. Replace your toothbrush every two to three months.
4. Arrange regular dental checkups and cleanings.
5. Scrape your tongue each morning with a tongue scraper or spoon to decrease the bacteria, fungi, and dead cells that can cause odour. Hold the tip of the tongue with gauze to pull it forward in order to clean the back of the tongue.
6. Chew a handful of cloves, fennel seeds, or aniseeds. Their antiseptic qualities help fight halitosis-causing bacteria.
7. Chew a piece of lemon or orange rind for a mouth (wash the rind thoroughly first). The citric acid will stimulate the salivary glands—and fight bad breath.
8. Chew a fresh sprig of parsley, basil, mint, or cilantro. The chlorophyll in these green plants neutralizes odours.
9. Try a 30-second mouthwash rinse that is alcohol-free (unlike many off-the-shelf products). Mix a cup of water with a teaspoon of baking soda (which changes the pH level and fights odour in the mouth) and a few drops of antimicrobial peppermint essential oil. Don’t swallow it!