If you have ever smelled rotten eggs, or got an odor from a stink bomb which is a like a foul gas smell, you will know how bad they smell. Both these things smell of sulfur, which smells so bad that it makes a person gag. It is the same smell which emanates from a person who suffers from bad breath and that is what makes it so terrible.
The smell of sulfur is very familiar to a lot people, but the cause of this smell is not known to many. When food particles are left in the mouth, they attract anaerobic bacteria. These are bacteria that flourish in areas that are lacking in oxygen. In the process of breaking down the food particles, these anaerobic bacteria release sulfur compounds which have basically the same smell as rotten eggs. Each time you open your mouth, you let the stinky smell out and share it with the people surrounding you, and this is not a very pleasant thought. Before other people notice that you have bad breath, you should take the necessary steps to eliminate it or prevent it before it even happens. Here are 6 of the most recommended ways to get rid of bad breath according to most dental experts:
Floss daily. No matter how well or how often you brush your teeth, some food particles will still stay stuck in between your teeth, away from the reach of your toothbrush's bristles. If left in the mouth for a long time, these food particles will attract the odor-causing bacteria. Flossing is the only solution to get rid of these efficiently.
Brush your teeth after meals. Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal, including snacks. However, this is not feasible for most people so the norm has been to brush once in the morning and once more before bedtime. If you are unable to brush during the day for some reason, make sure that you rinse your mouth well with clean water after eating, even it it's just a small cupcake or a slice of pizza.
Clean your tongue daily. Most people are actually very good in brushing their teeth twice or three times a day. But only a few actually take the extra step and brush their tongues as well. In fact, this is one of the most important ways to maintain freshness in your mouth and to keep bad breath at bay. Stick your tongue out in the mirror and observe the white substances towards the back areas. These are actually food particles and bacteria that dwell in your mouth and regularly release the bad odor. Cleaning out your tongue is actually very easy. After brushing, you can use the same toothbrush to lightly scrub the surface of your tongue. There are even special toothbrushes today specially made for this purpose.
Drink a lot of water. This will allow your mouth to produce enough saliva to wash away the bacteria that accumulate. There are some medications that will produce a feeling of dry mouth, which simply means that they decrease the amount of saliva your mouth produces. To keep dehydration of your mouth at bay, it is imperative that you make up for the lack of liquid in your mouth by increasing your liquid intake.
Stay away from alcohol based mouthwashes and sugary gums. It is hard to believe, but even though almost all mouthwashes will rid you, at least temporarily, of the bacteria that cause the bad odors, the alcohol based ones actually tend to dry out the inside of your mouth, thus creating the very absence of saliva that is beneficial for continuous flushing of undesirable bacteria. Look for other alternatives. Sugary gums on the other hand create an environment that is exceedingly bacteria friendly by offering them the very food substance, sugar, they cannot resist. So instead of doing something good for your mouth, you are actually doing the very opposite! Stay with the sugarless version of gums, and your teeth and breath will thank you.
Keep your dentist on speed dial. Be sure you make and keep regular dental appointments with your neighborhood dentist. Regular check ups will prevent many dental diseases that increase the likelihood of bad breath. In addition to the foregoing, your dentist will be able to recommend further treatments, if bad breath is no longer manageable simply with brushing, flossing, and scraping.