From casual conversations to important business meetings those of us who suffer from bad breath are faced with an embarrassing and quite literally distasteful condition. There is nothing quite like the feeling of panic when during a conversation you suddenly become aware that the other person can smell your bad breath. It can effect every part of a suffer's life. And some times the anticipation of the other person smelling your foul breath leads you to avoid situations you would otherwise enjoy and even excel in.

The Right Cure For Bad Breath

It is important to realize that there are several distinct causes of bad breath and that there are correspondingly different treatments for the different causes. Simply sucking a mint will not cure the fundamental, underlying problem. When you are looking for a cure for bad breath, you will have to examine the cause of the bad breath in order to treat it effectively. Bad breath is a common condition that affects one in four people and it is good to know that there is a cure and bad breath can be treated effectively.

Oral bacteria, foods, smoking, dentures, and dry mouth are the main causes of bad breath. Each cause of bad breath can cause either long term or short-term bad breath. However there is a cure for each of the causes of bad breath. And nobody needs to suffer as either the cause or the recipient of the problem of bad breath.

Oral Bacteria

The number one cause of bad breath is oral bacteria in the mouth, teeth and gums. This bad breath can be controlled, and even completely eliminated by regular brushing and flossing of your teeth. You should also brush or scrap your tongue. The oral bacteria that live in your mouth uses the tongue as one of their favorite hiding spots. When brushing and flossing you must dislodge food particles and plaque from your teeth so that bacteria will not thrive in your mouth. By getting into a regular routine of brushing and flossing, you can control the growth of bacteria and remove the problem of bad breath for ever.

If you suffer from chronic bad breath, medically called halitosis, then you must consult with a doctor to find a stronger, more permanent, treatment to cure your bad breath.

Food Caused Bad Breath

We all know that some foods, such as onions and garlic, can cause short-term bad breath. That is why you have to be very careful what you order when out on a dinner date, or even a business lunch. However while you can eat a sprig of parsley, cloves, fennel seeds or peppermint to mask the odour, the smell of strong foods cannot be eliminated because it originates in your intestinal tract. While you can try to mask the smell you run the risk of overpowering your breath with both mint and garlic. The only solution to food caused bad breath is to wait for the odor to leave your body naturally.

Bad Breath Caused By Smoking

The smell of tobacco and cigarette smoke is very hard to shift from your mouth, and your clothes. For those who don't smoke, and more importantly for those who have given up smoking, the smell of cigarettes from a person's breath can be quite distasteful. No amount of brushing, mouthwash or breath sprays will work, because these simply mask the smell temporarily as you will always have another cigarette. No only dose smoking leave the smell of tobacco and stale smoke in your mouth, but it also leaves your gums and teeth prone to gum disease which in and of itself will cause bad breath. If you smoke you will have bad breath, if you want fresh breath you will have to give up smoking.

Dentures And Bad Breath

Dentures that are not cleaned regularly can cause bad breath. Food particles can be caught in your dentures and unless they are washed regularly the food particles will help promote the growth of oral bacteria in your mouth causing bad breath. Always clean your dentures as recommended by your dentist.

Dry Mouth Caused Bad Breath

Dry mouth is a condition that can cause both short-term and long term bad breath. Moisture in the mouth helps to clean the tissues of excess food particles. However if the mouth is too dry, these food particles will not be washed away and bacteria will multiply. You should drink eight glasses of water water and juices each day to keep up the moisture levels in your mouth flush out the oral bacteria that causes bad breath. Don't forget to brush and floss regularly.

To effective the cure your bad breath must match the cause of the problem. Once you have found the cure for your particular condition you will feel like a great weight has lifted from your shoulders and you will conduct your interactions with other people, from casual conversations to important business meetings, with a new found confidence, knowing that your breath is fresh and sweet.