Fixing bad breath depends on what's causing it. In 80 to 90 percent of cases, it's due to something in the mouth. Most often, bad breath is the result of nothing more serious than a dirty mouth. Plaque, the nearly invisible film of bacteria that's constantly forming in your mouth, is often responsible. Another possible source of stink can be decaying food that's trapped between teeth.
Chronic bad breath
Chronic bad breath is most often caused by bacteria or gum disease. There are some clinics that can perform specialized testing to determine which strain of bacteria is causing the bad breath and then prescribe a personalized treatment. Chronic halitosis can also be caused by certain drugs and medical conditions. If you have a case of bad breath that just won’t quit, have a dental exam as well as a physical.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Here are three common causes of bad breath:
foods and drinks, such as garlic, onions, cheese, orange juice, and soda
poor dental hygiene (say: hi-jeen), meaning you don't brush and floss as you should smoking and other tobacco use Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath because when you leave food particles in your mouth, these pieces of food can rot and start to smell. The food particles may begin to collect bacteria, which can be smelly, too. Plus, by not brushing your teeth regularly, plaque (a sticky, colorless film) builds up on your teeth.
Bad Breath can be stopped by brushing your teeth more often. Most dentists will tell you to brush three times a day, once after every meal. Don't forget to floss and brush your tongue. The plaque found on your tongue and between your teeth is a part of the problem.
Don't let your tongue become a dirty carpet.
Bad breath often strikes when people aren't properly taking care of their oral health. The odor is usually caused by decaying food particles and bacteria in your mouth. That's why brushing and flossing your teeth is so important, but don't forget to gently brush your tongue to get rid of even more bacteria.
One of the easiest ways for a quick fix to your breath would be to keep some parsley handy. The green leafy herb that so many people use for garnish actually has a very productive purpose. Chewing on a sprig of parsley helps to absorb the substances that create the lack of freshness in your mouth, and as a bonus has several vitamins that your body could use anyway.
Eat a healthy breakfast
Quite apart from the well documented health benefits, a healthy breakfast can help with bad breath. Eating a coarse breakfast cereal like muesli, or a variety of hard fibrous fruit can help to clean the tongue as you chew and rid the mouth of odour-causing bacteria. Make sure you brush your teeth after breakfast though, so that you get rid of any food stuck in your teeth. You should wait an hour after eating before brushing your teet
Allowing a piece of chocolate to melt completely in your mouth can be helpful in ridding your breath of onion or garlic overtones. Gum and mints can also prove successful, so long as they are sugar-free - sugary gums and mints sometimes serve only to complicate your dragon breath.