How many times have you been disgusted with someone sporting bad breath? Have you ever wondered whether there may be days when YOU disgust others? But then how would you know if you have bad breath? You can’t expect someone to come up to you and tell you that! And if someone did, you would be too embarrassed to take it. Ignorance is truly bliss at times. However, it is better to find out if you have bad breath than let people talk behind your back about your poor oral hygiene.

Here’s a simple test to find if you have bad breath: Lick the back of your hand. Wait for a few seconds and then smell it. Your hand will smell bad if you have bad breath.

Your dentist may describe your bad breath as halitosis, which is just the medical name for bad breath. Let us look at what you can do to banish the offending breath.

Follow brushing and flossing with tongue cleaning

Imagine having flawless, bacteria-free teeth with a bacteria-flourishing tongue as company! Clean your tongue immediately after you have cleaned your teeth thoroughly. You do not want your tongue to become a playground for bacteria.

Rinse your mouth after consuming anything

It is recommended that you brush an hour after every meal, but what do you do after gulping down a glass of milk shake or crunching on a few wafers? Rinse your mouth. It does not matter how many times you have a snack, follow it up by rinsing the mouth well. And yes, do not replace brushing after meals with just rinsing.

Keep your mouth hydrated

Water is credited for treating several health issues, apart from giving us a glow from inside. Water also helps us keep bad breath at bay. And we are not referring to rinsing here, we are talking about drink water. Drink 2-3 liters of water everyday to keep your mouth hydrated. A dry mouth is one of the major factors causing bad breath.

Cut down on smoking and drinking

This is not new. Tobacco and alcohol cause our breath to smell bad, apart from triggering other oral problems. Cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke and the number of drinks you take if you want your smile to look and smell fine.

Take extra care after eating pungent food

Onion and garlic are no friends to your breath. Seafood and some types of meat also cause your mouth to stink. Clean your mouth thoroughly after you have had these food items.

Check the medicines you take

Some medicines give dry mouth as a side effect, which in turn causes bad breath. Ask your dentist if one of your medicines is giving you the bad odor in the mouth. Ask your doctor to suggest alternatives for such medicines.

Keep a few green cardamoms to chew on in emergency situations. If you frequently have bad breath, visit your dentist and let him/her find out if there is any deeper reason.

Tags: Bad breath, halitosis