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Bad breath can be very embarassing. Especially when you’ve had it for some time but had no idea, then a close friend reveals it to you or your find out some other way. Luckily there are many bad breath remedies available but first we need to quickly understand why we get bad breath.

Causes Of Halitosis

Bad breath is caused by bacteria which produce smelly sulphur compounds. The bacteria come from rotting food in a drying environment. So clearly, we need to control the bacteria and the conditions in which it thrives.

Water And Hydration

It is so important to keep the mouth moist to prevent bad breath. Some say that you need to drink 10 glasses of water per day but this is not strictly true. What is important is to use the water effectively. Think about it – if you just gulp water then it passes over the throat and tongue only once.

Much better is to swish it around in your mouth and even gargle it. The swishing is really easy to do, even in the workplace!

Also, take small sips rather than large gulps.

Probiotic Yoghurt

Recent studies have shown that probiotic yoghurts are helpful in preventing halitosis.

Floss

Most people don’t bother flossing but if you suffer from bad breath then you must do this at least daily. Flossing removes the rotting food from between your teeth and just under the gumline. If you smell the floss after using it, then you will be glad that you flossed and removed that gunk from your mouth!

Mouthwash

Use a mouthwash at least once per day. There are various different types and some people say that you shouldn’t use alcohol based mouthwashes because they dry out the mouth. This is correct, but I still recommend them because the alcohol is very effective at killing bacteria which are the ultimate cause of bad breath.

Use A Tongue Scraper

A lot of bacteria resides on the back third of the tongue. This is difficult to reach and a toothbrush often causes gagging. Invest in a tongue scraper which you can use to scrape the tongue after brushing your teeth in the morning.

“Hocking”

This is one of my favourite techniques. Often, food gets trapped on the tonsils and the surrounding area and rots for days. This is a major cause of halitosis! If you clear your throat by “hocking” almost violently, then this is a great way of removing the rotting material and curing your halitosis.

Canker sores is a strange term but it describes nothing more than a mouth ulcer. We all get them from time to time and they are often painful, especially when they form in clusters.

What Causes Canker Sores?

There are a whole host of causes. The single most common is injury which can be caused by biting the inside of the mouth accidentally while chewing, foreign objects such as eating utensils or even deliberately chewing.

There are also other reasons which have been difficult to diagnose such as menstrual cycles, hormonal changes, stress, toothpaste ingredients and more.

Now that we know what the causes then we should be closer to identifying a cure for canker sores as well as good preventative practice.

Carbamide Peroxide

Known by brand names such as Amosan and Cankaid, this pharma solution is an anti-bacterial and will aid in healing.

Topical Analgesics

These work to cut down the pain sensation, often by slightly numbing the affected area. Common ones contain benzocaine.

Wet Tea Bag

This is a common home remedy used to relieve the symptoms of canker sores and mouth ulcers. You need to hold it in place on the affected area for around 10 minutes. It might be a little messy at first but the tannin in tea appears to help the healing process and to relieve the pain.

Other Cures

There are other less popular cures which nevertheless, people have reported success with. These include placing a raw onion on the affected area, plum juice, diluted hydrogen peroxide and more. No doubt that your mother probably has her own recommendations too!

Prevention

The best way to prevent canker sores appearing in the first place is to have a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. This will ensure that you are not deficient in any vitamins and your mouth is kept clean. Chewing gum can also help with this but beware if you frequently suffer injury when chewing gum then this may not be for you.

There are very few people who floss but of those who do, most are doing it wrong.

This is a shame as flossing is a highly recommended activity for good dental care and to prevent gum disease. Not only that but there is some evidence which could suggest that flossing can prevent arterial deposit build up and heart disease.

How To Floss Correctly

The correct way to floss is to tear off a large piece of floss at least half a meter long. Wrap each end around the fingers several times and insert between two teeth.

Most people simply move the floss up and down which serves only to dislodge any food that may be caught between the teeth.

Instead, the floss should be pushed towards the gumline where it can go 2 ways – underneath the gum line and alongside the part of the tooth that is under the gum line.

You should think of each of your teeth becoming narrower until they reach the root – then you can see how the floss is able to take either direction when forced between two teeth. This way the plaque deposits can be dislodged for healthier gums and prevention of disease.

Flossing can be difficult at first, especially to reach the teeth at the back, but with practice this becomes easier over time. Especially when you see or smell the “gunk” that comes out from between the teeth, you will be glad to develop this habit for fresher breath, cleaner teeth and healthier gums.

As new wisdom teeth emerge they can often get infected. This is caused when the tooth erupts at the surface of the gum and whilst partly emerged it is susceptible to storing food particles.

Because most people do not brush right at the back of the mouth (in fact we often get a “gag reflex” and don’t wish to do so) then this food rots over the course of several days.

Eventually, this will cause what is normally a small infection. The surrounding gum around the wisdom tooth will become painful to the touch and on impact as the teeth are clenched in this area.

It basically feels the same as a very light toothache and is often mistaken for having a toothache in the neighboring adjacent molar.

The best treatment is to have your dentist clean and scale the area thoroughly and from then on to brush that area thoroughly, at least until the wisdom tooth has fully emerged. Salt water mouthwashes are also a good idea top help the gum heal.

In very rare cases, an infection might be so bad that it could lead to or actually cause an abscess. Sometimes, antibiotics are prescribed in such cases although, as throughout the entire medical profession, antibiotic drugs are over prescribed which means that their potency is diminishing as years go by.