1 2 Smile

_BAD BREATH

Bad breath is like high blood pressure: the victim thereof could be totally unaware of the problem and the possible consequences. This is the first problem that we need to address: How do I know that I suffer from a bad breath? The first method you can use is to ask a really honest friend or family member to tell you so. It is commonly known that somebody can be considered a true friend if he/she is willing to tell you that your breath is not fresh to save you the embarrassment of others thinking so. Otherwise you can cup your hand over your nose, breathe out in it with your mouth and smell. This is quite reliable too. Often a bad breath is accompanied by a foul taste, sometimes described as a bitter taste in the mouth. When talking to somebody and you find that they tend to turn away or step back, the writing is most certainly on the wall!!

There are quite a number of reasons why this can happen and I would suggest that if the problem persists after the practical hints I'm about to give - make an appointment with your dentist or oral hygienist for professional help.

Replace your old toothbrush or brush with a highly effective electric brush.

Brush properly, in the correct way in order to get rid of all the bacteria.

Floss your teeth properly once a day - every day.

Visit your dentist and oral hygienist regularly for routine check-ups, maintenance and cleaning of your teeth.

Brush your tongue or get a tongue scraper to clean your tongue daily.

Drink lots of water to help keep your mouth clean.

Follow a healthy diet. Make sure that you have three meals per day and eat healthy food.

Viewed primarily as a social concern, bad breath(halitosis) is fast becoming recognized as a possible indicator of more serious oral, physical or even psychogenic illness.
There are several factors playing a role in persistent bad breath. I'll name a few to point out to you why it is so vitally important to seek help in order to solve the problem:

Inadequate oral hygiene.
Long periods of mouth-closing (e.g. Morning breath)
Dry mouth due to mouth breathing or medication.
Tongue coatings.
Aging.
Alcohol.
Hunger.
Pungent foods (e.g. garlic/onions)
Tobacco.
Therapeutics (e.g. diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines,
antiparkinsonian agents, radiation therapy, chemotherapeutic agents, analgesics etc.)

Cancer.
Mouth infections, inflammation or ulceration.
Candidacies.
Gastrointestinal (gastroesophageal reflux, hiatal hernia or cancer)
Nasal (sinusitis, rhinitis, tumors or foreign bodies)
Pulmonary (bronchitis, pneumonia, TB or cancer)
Systemic (dehydration, cirrhosis, diabetes, fever, hepatic disease, leukemia or rheumatologic disease)

Bad breath could be an indication of a serious problem - don’t ignore it - for your own sake and for the sake of others that come in close contact with you !!!