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How Do I Get Rid Of Bad Breath?
Introduction:
We have compiled this article on “How Do I Get Rid Of Bad Breath?.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.
[1]Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, is usually perceived as a sign of bad oral hygiene. To understand if you can get rid of bad breath permanently, you and your doctor and dentist will first need to look at its probable causes.
What Can Cause Bad Breath?
Bad breath can result from multiple causes and can even be a warning sign of an illness. The possible causes include:
Poor Oral Hygiene:
Not brushing your teeth daily or not flossing them daily, not cleaning your dentures can give rise to bad breath.
Certain Foods:
Ingestion of raw garlic and onion are known to cause bad breath. This is due to the substances that they released after their breakdown in the stomach that reach the lungs via circulation.
Tobacco:
Apart from their own odor, smoking and chewing tobacco can cause gum disease and lead to bad breath.
Infections In Your Mouth:
Dental conditions, such as tooth decay, can cause you to have bad breath.
Diseases Of Your Nose Or Throat:
Conditions like sinusitis and rhinitis can cause post-nasal discharge and cause you to develop bad breath. Tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) can also lead to bad breath.
Decreased Salivation/Dry Mouth:
You may have decreased salivation due to disorders of the salivary gland or medical conditions, such as xerostomia (dry mouth), which may be caused by several factors like certain medications, aging, use of alcohol and tobacco, and cancer therapy. Sleeping with your mouth wide open can also cause dry mouth and lead to bad breath.
Medications:
Medicines like antihistamines (used to relieve allergies) and the ones that cause you to urinate frequently (diuretics) can cause dry mouth and lead to bad breath.
Chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD) or problems with your digestion
Diabetes
A foreign body (such as a piece of food) lodged in a nostril (commonly seen in children)
[2]Home Remedies For Bad Breath
Drink Water
Whenever you feel your mouth getting dry, drink water (not juice or soda because those can dry your mouth out more).
Saliva helps keep your mouth clean and prevents smelly bacteria from thriving.
Rinse With Warm Salt Water
Gargling salt water is a natural way to stop bad breath.
Create a mixture of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt to every 8 ounces of warm water. Swish a swig of the mixture around your mouth for 30 seconds, then spit it out. Repeat as needed.
Chew On Cloves
Cloves help freshen your breath instantly and fight off bacteria that cause cavities.
Simply suck on or chew a few cloves a few times a day.
Side note:
Don’t use clove oil or powdered cloves because they may cause burns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Onion or garlic breath? Get rid of these bad breath odors instantly with apple cider vinegar (ACV)!
Add a generous splash of ACV to a glass of water and switch it around your mouth. Gargle for 30 seconds, then spit it out.
Eat Fruits And Veggies
Did your know fruits and vegetables help freshen your breath?
Apples, celery, and carrots act as natural toothbrushes and help remove odor-causing bacteria from your teeth.
Oranges (vitamin C) help increase saliva production to fight bad breath.
Make Your Own Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Did you know alcohol dries out your mouth? And did you also know most over-the-counter mouthwashes contain alcohol?
As we mentioned earlier, dry mouth is associated with bad breath. That’s why store-bought mouthwashes don’t work for everyone!
Luckily, you can make your own alcohol-free mouthwash at home, and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen.
Tea Tree Oil
There are a few ways to use tea tree oil to freshen your breath:
Apply a few drops of tea tree oil on your toothpaste and brush your teeth.
Skip the toothpaste and brush with tea tree oil (this doesn’t substitute for brushing with toothpaste)
Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in warm water and rinse your mouth with it.
Floss Your Teeth
Flossing removes plaque buildup, bacteria, or food stuck between or on your teeth, which is often the culprit for bad breath.
Pro tip:
When flossing, hug the floss around each side of your tooth.
Clean Your Tongue
Tongues can harvest all sorts of bacteria, making your breath smell bad.
To clean your tongue, gently scrub it with your toothbrush! Make sure to rinse your toothbrush and mouth afterward.
Chew Gum
Gum helps stimulate saliva production, which helps clean your mouth of stinky bacteria and leftover food particles.
Conclusion:
Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!
Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental
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