Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Fighting Halitosis: How to Knock it Out

You may wonder, whom did you offend in a past life to be punished with bad breath? Sounds dramatic, but that is what bad breath (halitosis) is-dramatic. It wreaks havoc on your day and social life and makes you self conscious to the point of paranoia.



When you hear a laugh in the office, you worry that it is a group of people making fun of your bad breath. Suddenly, the world seems to revolve around your bad breath and fighting halitosis. The good news is that fighting halitosis is easier than you think, so stop stressing and read on (youll even learn about a bad breath home remedy or two!)

Why did you get bad breath?

Every day foods, beverages, medications, and ailments can cause bad breath, which is why so many people seek ways of fighting halitosis. One day you might have fresher breath than the sea air, but if youre hit by allergies, post nasal drip and a dry mouth well that fresh breath can quickly turn foul.

Halitosis is also caused by odorous foods like garlic, dairy, and other foods that might be caught between your teeth. Alcohol and alcohol-based mouthwashes dry out the mouth, creating a breeding group for bacteria responsible for nasty breath. Diabetes is another culprit for bad breath, as are certain medications.

If you have breath, and continue to eat these foods, it makes fighting halitosis a challenge. According to the American Dental Association, halitosis is an embarrassing condition that is uncomfortable for the person who has it.

Ways of Fighting Halitosis

Monitor your diet. Avoid excess dairy or acidic foods like onions.
Brush and floss your teeth directly after each meal.
If dining out, take a drink of water and swoosh it around your mouth to break up any food caught between your teeth.

Limit your alcohol consumption and cease tobacco use.

If allergies and dry mouth cause your halitosis, one bad breath home remedy is to gargle water and salt.

Drink plenty of water to ensure your mouth stays moist and doesnt dry out.

Another bad breath home remedy for fighting halitosis is to chew on herbs such as thyme, mint, or cloves instead of gum.

Do not overuse mouthwashes as this dries out the mouth. A bad breath home remedy would be to use lemon and water as a mouth rinse.

Dont forget to regularly see your dentist for cleanings.

There are many ways you can develop halitosis, and when you do it is your bodys way of saying, Hello, pay attention, here, youre not doing something right. And boy, does it get your attention! That something youre doing wrong can be improper diet, a lapse in oral hygiene, sickness, or a combination.

Fighting halitosis is a match that has to be fought round by round, but if you make some changes in the products you use, food you eat, and oral hygiene, youll knock halitosis out in no time!

By : Whozylee Aris

Whozylee Aris has created a website on the topic of bad breath. Find the real causes and cures for bad breath by visiting http://www.bad-breath-resource.com. View this article online at http://www.bad-breath-resource.com/article-10-fighting-halitosis.html

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