If you are one of the many people who have halitosis, you would already know that it can be an acute source of embarrassment. It can be quite frustrating and time-consuming to find a way to get rid of halitosis when one is suffering from it. Over the next several paragraphs you will find some effective tips for curing or in the least, alleviating your condition.
One of the primary causes of bad breath is that the bacteria in the mouth release volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) when they feed on the leftover food particles in your mouth. These sulfur compounds are very malodorous by nature. Hence, one way to get rid of bad breath is to practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing after every meal. This will greatly reduce the amount of food remnants which is the nourishment for the bacteria in your mouth. There might also be some fatty matter, from the food you have eaten, coated on your tongue and so using a tongue scraper to remove it would also be useful.
Another thing which can reduce bad breath is to cut sugar out of your diet. This means that you should not consume any types of gums, mints, or candies that have any sugar in them – a common practice among people suffering from bad breath. The reason for this is that the bacteria in your mouth can use sugar to reproduce and this will increase the production of foul smelling VSCs.
The other thing to consider is to reduce the consumption of anything that contains a high level of acid. Highly acidic foods or drinks are known to make the bacteria in your mouth reproduce at a faster rate which leaves a bitter aftertaste and make your breath foul. Some items that you should avoid till you have the bacterial levels in your mouth under control are caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, oranges, pineapples, grapefruits, and tomatoes.
It is also a good idea to increase the water intake to at least 8 glasses daily, as a dry mouth is one of the major causes of bad breath. A dry mouth can cause bacteria to reproduce more quickly. If you do not drink enough water, then dry mouth in most likelihood is the reason for the bad breath.
Hopefully the tips given above would help in reducing your bad breath. Please keep in mind that these are general tips and that certain medical conditions can also induce bad breath. So, the best course of action is to try out these tips for a few weeks and if they don't help, please consult a doctor.
