How to Kill The Bacteria That Can Cause Bad Breath (Halitosis)

How to Kill The Bacteria That Can Cause Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Bad breath can strike anyone and while you may be vigorously brushing your teeth to keep it at bay you should not forget your tongue.

Brushing and flossing your teeth is important, but don't forget to gently brush your tongue to get rid of even more bacteria.

Your tongue has been compared to a shaggy carpet -- there are millions of filaments on it that trap tiny food particles and bacteria.

Get in the habit of regularly cleaning your tongue using a toothbrush, the edge of a spoon, or a tongue cleaner.

If you have any mouth guards or oral devices, make sure to clean them thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth.

Mouthwash is also useful but it's only a temporary fix.

Mouthwash containing antibacterial ingredients such as chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium do the job of getting rid of bad breath better than a placebo, according to one study.

This is probably due to decreasing the amount of bacteria in the mouth responsible for bad breath.

Look out for mouthwash with chlorine dioxide and zinc.

Saliva is your best weapon against bad breath, that's why dry mouth, often caused by certain medications or medical conditions, causes the problem.

Saliva production slows while you sleep and that is where chewing gum comes is useful as it will stimulate saliva, which mechanically washes away the bacteria that cause bad breath.

While anything that makes you salivate will improve your breath, a gum that is sweetened with xylitol is your best option.

On rare occasions bad breath can signal a larger problem, including infection, and even kidney or liver failure. Therefore if your dentist does not find a cause see your GP.

The problem could be linked to a high protein, low carbohydrate diet, so add a few carbs to your daily diet.


Discover how I cured my nasty Bad Breath here.

Source: Irish Independent - http://www.independent.ie/health/diet-fitness/how-to-kill-the-bacteria-that-can-cause-bad-breath-1674010.html
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