Speaking of Halitosis, What’s That Smell?

Bad breath is an embarrassing problem, especially when you are about to whisper sweet nothings to a cutie. The noticeably stinky odor is released at the same time you exhale. This is a major problem that most of us face at some point. In fact, this is the third-most common reason why people seek dental assistance, right after tooth decay and gum disease. This condition is medically known as halitosis.

Having bad breath is normal. Surely we have it after we’ve had lots to drink and smoke during a night out. In everyday office work, coffee usually contributes to the buildup of bad breath. In most cases, bad breath starts in the mouth. Its intensity varies depending on what we consume during the day. Bad breath also occurs in the form of morning breath where our mouth is exposed to less oxygen.

But bad breath is transient and often disappears following the basic dental hygiene routine of brushing and flossing. When bad breath is still persistent, there’s something wrong.

Apart from the simple remedy of brushing one’s teeth regularly, perhaps you might want to brush your tongue too. Odor-causing bacteria usually reside on the posterior dorsum of the tongue. Gentle tongue cleaning will greatly eliminate the bad odor; for further bacteria-killing action, rinse with anti-bacterial mouthwash.

For a traditional approach, eat oranges and sweet limes. Other odor-repellant fruits include avocado, apples and parsley. Peppermint and tea tree oil also helps fight bad breath. If the bad odor still persists, seek dental assistance as soon as possible.