Bad breath is a condition that affects up to 90 million Americans and more people worldwide. Despite this, though, bad breath remedies are still practically experimental. Despite the formation of ISBOR, the International Society for Breath Odour Research, in 1996 and a conference on the same taking place in Germany in 2009, bad breath still remains one of those maladies that physicians can’t quite understand. Clinically referred to as halitosis, bad breath can be described as the presence of unpleasant odours originating from the mouth and nasal cavity. Given the number of individuals that suffer from this condition, it is estimated that about a third of all dentist visits are about seeking out bad breath remedies.
Bad breath is divided into two categories, transient and persistent, with the latter being the most severe form of breath halitosis. In the first instance, bad odours exhaled from the mouth generally disappear after implementing basic bad breath remedies such as brushing, chewing on mints or gargling mouthwash. ‘Morning breath’ and ‘tea/coffee breath’ fall into this transient halitosis category. Similar breath treatment will not work, however, for persistent or chronic bad breath. The 25 percent of the population that suffers from this particular form of halitosis usually need more than bad breath remedies. In this case the bad breath causes are usually health-related and could indicate a serious underlying issue.
Though they may not be able to agree on standard bad breath remedies, the one thing that both dentists and physicians can agree causes bad breath is the presence of bacteria in the oral cavity. The mouth is home to at least 600 different types of bad breath germs. Given the moist incubator-like environment found in the mouth, especially towards the back of the tongue, it’s no surprise that once left ‘unattended’, these bacteria lead to the formation of foul odours. Aside from this, tooth decay, gum disease, and nose and throat infections are also causes of bad breath. However, in the case of sinus infections, the smell is a bit different. It has also been discovered that there is a link between bad breath and the stomach. Bad breath stomach-originating bacteria are usually indicative of esophageal and digestive tract problems. Understanding the underlying causes of bad breath helps individuals to better understand the types of bad breath remedies used to treat the condition.
Bad breath-like body odour is not one of those things that people want to willingly disclose. However, the fact of the matter is, that breath halitosis affects almost everyone at some point in their life. For this reason alone, it is important to know the various types of bad breath remedies out there to prevent any future embarrassment.
1. The first, most effective cure or bad breath remedy is maintaining good oral hygiene. By regularly brushing teeth, flossing, using medicated or approved mouthwashes, and tongue scraping, it is possible to keep the worst of halitosis at bay. In fact, cleaning the tongue is the most important of the three bad breath remedies as most bad breath germs are located at the back of the tongue. The worst case of bad breath you’d get under these conditions would simply be after-meal odours that can be effectively dealt with by sucking on mints or chewing gum. It is generally recommended to brush, floss, and tongue clean twice a day.
2. Chewing gum is also another form of bad breath remedy as it helps keep the mouth moist. Dry mouth, which is generally the cause of most transient bad breath, causes bacteria to build up at the back of the tongue. If it is impossible to brush or rinse the mouth after a meal, then this bad breath treatment should suffice. Chewing generally prompts the salivary glands to produce saliva which is one of the best bad breath remedies as it contains anti-bacterial properties that can be used to flush germs out of the mouth.
3. To ensure that you have fresh breath (or at least avoid bad breath) throughout the day, you should avoid foods that cause bad breath. Foods with copious amounts of garlic, onions, spices, as well as coffee, tobacco, and alcohol should be avoided. Eating of high-carb food is also recommended. Maintaining a low-carb, high-protein diet usually prompts the body to burn stored fat as fuel as opposed to using up carbs to provide energy. This conversion process leads to the build-up of ketones in the body (a process called ketosis) which are exhaled through the breath. Needless to say, ketones do not smell good.
4. Drinking lemon juice or green tea are also great forms of bad breath remedies. Though considered more of a home remedy for bad breath, they are still as effective as the other methods if not more as they also have other added health benefits. Gargling fresh-squeezed lemon or drinking unsweetened Fenugreek seed tea is an excellent way to cure bad breath or promote fresh breath.
There are a number of tried and tested methods to cure bad breath with bad breath remedies ranging from the severely clinical to home remedies as well. It is generally suggested that you search for the best treatment method that works for you to ensure that you can have fresh breath all day long. In cases where none of these remedies seem to be working, then you should probably see a doctor as there may be a serious underlying medical condition causing your chronic halitosis. For more information on bad breath remedies and such, you can visit the following link: www.en.wikipedia.com/Halitosis#treament.