Suppose you conduct a 'breath test' as you make your way to an important meeting,and you fail. Don't worry-the following quick fixes can help to minimise halitosis(the term for bad breath).If your gums,tongue and teeth are harbouring odour-causing bacteria,you will want to adopt some rigorous daily hygiene habits to inhibit them.That's when special rinses,attention to toothpaste and regular brushing and flossing can begin making bad breath good.
What's WRONG?
People back away from you whenever you talk to them.Or someone has told you frankly that you have bad breath.The most obvious and immediate cause is eating a dish laced with peperoni,onions,garlic or blue cheese.But there are plenty of other posssible causes.Perhaps you're a a smoker,or could it be that you dont brush your teeth of floss often enough?Gum disease is another common cause of bad breath.If you have an abscessed tooth or a sinus infection,your unpleasant breath is almost certainly a side effect.Other suspects include certain prescription drugs,a chronically dry mouth or too many cups of coffee.
Take emergency measures
*A dry mouth is a haven for the bacteria that cause bad breath.So find a tap and swish the water around in your mouth.Water will temporarily dislodge and make your breath a bit more acceptable.
*At the end of your business lunch or romantic dinner,munch the sprig of parsley that's left on your plate.Parsley is rich in chlorophyll, a well-known breath deodoriser with germ fighting properties.
*If you can get hold of an orange, peel and eat it.The citric acid it contains will stimulate your salivary glands and encourage the flow of breath-freshening saliva.
*If there are no oranges in sight, eat whatever is available, except known breath polutants such as garlic, onions or a stinky cheese.Eating encourages the flow of saliva, which helps to remove the unpleasant, odour-causing material on the surface of your tongue.
*Vigorously scrape your tongue over your teeth.Your tongue can become coated with bacteria that ferment proteins producing gases that smell unpleasant.Scraping your tongue may sound off-putting if you haven't done it before, but it allows you to dislodge bacteria so you can rinse them away.
*If you have a metal or plastic spoon to hand, you can use it as an effective tongue scrapper.To scrape safely, place the spoon on the back of your tongue and drag it forwards.Repeat four of five times.Scrape the sides of the tongue as well, with the same back-to-front motion.But don't push the spoon too far back in your mouth as you may activate your gag reflex and inadvertently make yourself vomit.
Raid the spice rack
*Cloves are rich in eugenol, a potent antibacterial.Simply pop one into your mouth and dent it with your teeth.The pungent aromatic oil may burn slightly, so keep the spicy clove moving.Continue to bite until the essence permeates your mouth,then spit it out.Don't use clove oil or powdered cloves; they are too strong and can result in burns.
*Chew on fennel, dill, cardamom or anise seeds.Anise, which tastes like licorice, can kill the bacteria that grow on the tongue.The others will help to mask the odour of halitosis.
*Suck on a stick of cinnamom.Like cloves, cinnamom is effective as an oral antiseptic.
*Try sea salt for healthy gums and fresh breath.Rinse your mouth with a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water after flossing.Salt has mild antiseptic properties, helping to kill bacteria that causes bad breath.
Choose your freshners
*Most popular, branded products advertise as breath freshners are rarely, if ever, effective in the long term.But it appears that a chlorine dioxide rinse, such as Breeze Original Rinse(availabe online), can combat the sulphur compounds responsible for bad breath.
*Use a toothpaste that contains tea-tree oil, a natural disinfectant.If you can't find it in a pharmacy or supermarket, look for it in health food shops.
*Make your own mouthwash.Try this easy recipe: Mix together 1 tablespoon witch hazel, 1 teaspoon glycerine and 5 drops peppermint essential oil with 100ml water.Rinse your mouth with mixture after brushing your teeth, or whenever you want to freshen your breath.
How to sniff out bad breath
Just how bad is your breath?To find out, perform a 'sniff test' on dental floss after you have pulled it gently between your teeth but make sure you choose only an unwaxed and unflavoured variety. Another alternative is rubbing a face washer across the tongue and smelling it. If you are worried about your teeth breath, talk to your dentist or hygienist.They will also be able to advise you on mouth hygiene and will check to see whether gum disease or poor mouth hygiene are likely causes.
SHOULD I CALL THE DOCTOR?
While all of us have bad breath from time to time, good oral hygiene should keep it to a minimum.But bad breath that lingers for more than 24 hours can also be a sign of gum disease, intestinal problems or a more serious condition. If you brush and floss diligently, but can't banish bad breath on your own, see your doctor or dentist. You should also see a doctor if your breath smells sweet or fruity, as this could be a sigh of diabetes.
