Don't you just hate bad breath? The only thing worse than coming face-to-face with halitosis is realizing that you have bad breath yourself. Bad breath (the technical term for it is halitosis) is a problem that everyone deals with at some point in their lives. Many people rely on mints and breath sprays as standard halitosis remedies, but unfortunately these provide only a temporary bad breath solution. There may be a temporary improvement in your halitosis, but once you stop the treatment, halitosis returns. Are there any bad breath remedies that can provide a fast, but long-lasting halitosis solution?

To understand why some bad breath remedies only work for a short time, we need to take a closer look at what actually causes halitosis. There are two types of halitosis, or bad breath. Transient halitosis only last for a short time and is usually caused by something you ate, like garlic or onion. Chronic bad breath is more difficult and frustrating to deal with. It may have no connection with anything you've eaten.

The number one cause of chronic halitosis is the build up of bacteria in your mouth, primarily on your tongue or between your teeth. Your tongue actually provides an excellent environment for the build up and growth of bacteria because it has a rough surface. Plus, just think about it--your mouth is warm, usually moist, and regularly has food sources passing through it. That pretty much makes it the perfect location of the fast development and growth of bacteria. The problem is, bacteria smells bad. To find a long-lasting halitosis solution, you need to find something that will help control the bacteria in your mouth. Bad breath remedies that don't kill bacteria just won't do the job.

The most effective halitosis solution is good oral hygiene. Essentially, this means you should brush your teeth and floss between them after every meal. For most people, this means three times a day. When plaque builds up between your teeth, it provides little pockets that are perfect for the growth of odor-causing bacteria. It also provides a handy surface for food particles to latch onto. If these little bits of food aren't regularly cleaned away, they will start to decay and contribute to bad breath. That's why regular brushing and flossing are essential halitosis remedies.

Another vitally important part of a fast bad breath solution is to clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. You can use a tongue scraper specifically made for cleaning your tongue. Or you can also use the edge of a spoon to safely scrape the bacterial build-up from your tongue. Most new toothbrush designs have started to incorporate a tongue cleaning surface on the toothbrush itself. You can also brush your tongue with the normal part of a toothbrush.

If your oral hygiene hasn't been so great for a while, then your best bet for a fast halitosis solution is a visit the dentist. A professional cleaning will give you a good jump start on cleaning out the plaque, bacteria and accumulated food particles from your mouth. A dentist can also give you some good professional advice on keeping your teeth clean, keeping your mouth fresh, and keeping bad breath away. You dental health professional may also prescribe the use of antibacterial mouthwash. This type of mouthwash can provide an excellent halitosis solution fast, but be careful not to use it longer than the dentist prescribes. There are actually good bacteria in your mouth that you need to help preserve.

Bad breath is something that all of us have had to deal with at some time or other. It's simply part of being human. Mints, lozenges and other short-term halitosis remedies may provide immediate improvement, but a long-term bad breath solution is going to take a little extra work. For the fastest halitosis solution, make an appointment with your dentist. Get your dentist to provide recommendations for good oral hygiene and follow his instructions. At least that will keep you from dealing with bad breath from that person in the mirror.