Bad breath can be a great source of embarrassment and shame, not only for the person affected but also for the person who is unfortunate enough to take on the role of telling that person that he or she has bad breath. Fortunately, there are many bad breath treatments available from home remedies to supplements that help aid digestion.

The firs step in treating bad breath, of course, is practicing good oral hygiene. In fact, one of the main reasons why bad smelling breath develops is because people don’t take good care of their mouth.

Brushing your teeth regularly and flossing are one important step in bad breath treatment. Another is to get regular dentist check-ups in order to identify and correct problems that may lead to bad breath, including gum disease, carious teeth, faulty restorations, overhanging fillings and leaking crowns. All of these serve as food traps, encouraging bacteria growth, which in turn causes bad breath.

Now, in addition to good oral hygiene, bad breath treatments may also include:

Sugarless Gums and Lozenges

Chewing gums or sucking on lozenges will help increase saliva flow and prevent dry mouth, which is one cause of bad breath. It is important that you take only sugarless gums and lozenges in order to minimize acidity in the mouth. Sugar can add to the acidity in your mouth, thereby attracting bacteria to grow.

The saliva acts as your mouth’s natural mouthwash. It removes particles of food and has antibiotic elements that kill off bacteria. By encouraging saliva flow with this particular bad breath treatment, you therefore remove the factors that contribute to bad breath.

Water

If chewing on sugarless gums and lozenges is not enough to increase saliva flow, then increase your intake of fluids, especially water. Water therapy is one good bad breath treatment that will cost you just about nothing and yet is effective in solving the problem. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day to help with basic metabolic function and to keep the mouth moist. This will help hold bacterial flora at bay.

Vitamin C Deficiency, and Tobacco

These two are actually major contributive factors to bad breath. It has been frequently observed that persons with a deficiency in vitamin C tend to develop bad breath. Vitamin C supplements are therefore recommended as bad breath treatment.

Additionally, the nicotine in tobacco products like cigarettes can destroy vitamin C, thus leading to a deficiency in this nutrient. Smokers should therefore take vitamin C supplements to treat bad breath.

If supplementation is not an option for you, then consider snacking on carrots, celery, or other vegetables that are rich in vitamin C. Not only will this help keep plaque from forming, but it will also help increase your intake of vitamin C.