How To Get Rid of Bad Breath

The problem of how to get rid of bad breath has frustrated halitosis sufferers for generations. It seems odd, and perhaps unfair, that some people have halitosis for no apparent reason, while others never have a problem. Fortunately, huge advances in medicine and science in the last 60 years have shed light on the subject, and there are now better products for dealing with unpleasant breath odor.

Bad breath help may be as near as your doctor or dentist. How is your physical health? Do you have any underlying medical conditions that might account for your problem? Consult your family doctor for confirmation that you have a problem, advice on whether a health problem could be causing your trouble, and a discussion about how to get rid of bad breath. How is your oral and dental health? While poor oral hygiene is perhaps not so closely linked with halitosis as many people believe, dental decay and gum disease can certainly foster the proliferation of anaerobic oral bacteria that produce foul odors. Your dentist can tell you if you have either of these problems.

If your general and oral health are both fine, but you still need breath odor help, you'll find a diverse selection of products on the market. It's a good idea to avoid the common breath mints, breath freshening gums and oral sprays: for the most part, these products temporarily mask the odor of bad breath but do nothing to show you how to get rid of bad breath for good (they are, however, indispensable for close encounters of short duration - like dates and interviews). Look instead for products that will work at a deeper level - products that actually eliminate the oral bacteria that cause bad breath.

Mouthwashes that contain antibacterial ingredients are not new, and they do seem to provide bad breath help. Newer approaches to the problem may be even more effective, but to date, no one has discovered how to get rid of bad breath for good. Some newer products seem to keep halitosis under continuous control as long as they are used consistently - products that release oxygen in the mouth to kill anaerobic bacteria, or use oil to gather up bacteria and carry them away. It's hard to eliminate these bacteria entirely, however, so if you stop using the product, the problem tends to recur.

The answer may lie with the body's ability to fight oral bacteria on its own. Researchers are now asking themselves whether lifestyle can play a role in how to get rid of bad breath. Is it made worse by poor diet - possibly some nutrient deficiency? Could an improved active healthy lifestyle stimulate the body's immune system to fight off the unwelcome bacteria? Hopefully, medical research in the coming years will answer this question - then we will all have access to more, and better, bad breath help.

By R. Drysdale

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to How to Get Rid of Bad Breath, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.