Bad breath or halitosis can lead to a huge amount of trouble. Beyond the embarrassment that it create for both you and other people, since it isn't something people are ready to talk about, it can ruin a business negotiation, totally trash a date and leave you feeling either confused or lower than a worm's belly. Just the anxiety and the doubt that lies in that annoying little thought, "is it my breath?" can be enough to sour anybody's day. But let's just face it. Yes, everybody can have bad breath at least from time to time and some have such a bad problem that a typical bad breath solution just will not resolve their situation.



So What causes bad breath?

Most frequently bad breath or halitosis results from bacteria in our mouths mostly on the tongue - and typically in difficult to reach places, and on and around the teeth. As these bacteria devour the food particles and plaque they find, sulfur compounds are released causing the bad smells. However, this may be only part of what's going on and not all of those odors coming out of the mouth are always a result of the action of bacteria. An appropriate bad breath solution really depends on identifying exactly what may be contributing to the problem so let's look at some other questions about bad breath causes.

Can bad breath be caused by some foods?

As I'm sure you actually know, foods can be a non-bacterial source of bad breath. The notorious ones are onions and garlic which have strong smelling molecules that stay in our system, and eventually get to the lungs so that when we breath we begin to smell up the locale. Also, because of the link of sorts between acid reflux and halitosis, avoiding greasy foods, caffeine and, most unfortunately, chocolate, which could cause acid reflux may end up as a part of your bad breath solution.

Does smoking affect my breath?

It's going to affect more than just how your breath smells. Discounting the fact that even smokers find the smell of stale tobacco smoke revolting, smoking dries out your mouth and you lack the usual amount of saliva. That saliva, which you now don't have, would have acted like a natural mouth rinse to wash away the bacteria and their wastes from your mouth. If you are a smoker, you may not really believe just how bad you may be smelling to non-smokers since it usually damages your senses of taste and smell.

Is it a fact that bad breath can come from my stomach?

Indeed, this can happen. Digestive halitosis is a result of the steady action of digestive enzymes. Whenever there's no food to work on, they can start effecting the stomach lining and that may generate a nasty odor like rotting food which comes out in your breath. Normally it's fairly simple to stop digestive halitosis since it disappears once you put some food in there for them to work on.

What do acid reflux and halitosis have to do with each other?|How are acid reflux and halitosis related?|What's the connection between acid reflux and halitosis?|Are acid reflux and halitosis related?}

Heartburn or acid reflux is a wrong way flow of stomach acids up the esophagus. Aside from being really unpleasant, it can deliver more food for bacteria to your mouth along with some unpleasant smelling molecules from the stomach. This is not a direct relationship but bad breath is yet another reason to eliminate a problem with heartburn.

The most basic remedy, in most cases, revolves around reducing odor causing bacteria in the mouth. So, the simplest bad breath solution is to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Flossing is a requirement because it helps remove both plaque and any food particles that are stuck between teeth or at the gum line. Brushing assists in this process. Scraping (gently) your tongue is particularly important. Since brushing it can be uncomfortable and could fail to be fully effective unless done carefully with a very soft brush, you might find a tongue scraper is a good alternative. Cavities or abscesses can also contribute to bad breath as well as being painful and causing tooth loss. Seeing your dentist regularly is part of good oral hygiene.

Some easy home remedies to treat bad breath can also be used to reduce the effects of foods such as onions and garlic. Chewing on parsley or basil or other "greens" releases chlorophyll which is a deodorizer. Beyond stimulating the production of saliva, citrus fruits acidity will kill off most mouth bacteria. Plus you get a bonus since they also give your breath a tangy fresh scent.

As you've probably realized by now, there isn't just one bad breath solution. Different bad breath causes respond to different remedies and taking a holistic approach will help you not only eliminate bad breath bacteria but also to take care of the other possible causes.