Bad breath is not as uncommon as you think. According to estimates, about 14% to 25% of people in the United States are actually suffering from this problem. But it does not matter if bad breath is common, it is still a big cause for embarrassment and can be a total turn off for your date. You may look hot and beautiful, but people would simply not want to spend time with you -- let alone kiss you -- if your breath smells like used socks.

Halitosis, a medical term for bad breath, can be caused by a lot of things. Aside from poor hygiene, this condition can also be a symptom of other illnesses or conditions. Experts also say that bad breath can be exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyle or habits such as smoking and eating certain types of food.

In order to safely eliminate foul-smelling breath, you need to know the underlying reasons why you have such condition. No amount of mints could mask stinking breath due to the factors and conditions listed below.

Poor Oral Hygiene

The mouth is considered as one of the dirtiest and bacteria-filled orifices in the human body. In order to stop the proliferation of bacteria inside the mouth, you need to consciously pay attention to your oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth after eating is a good idea to reduce bacteria inside the mouth. Gargling mouthwash at least once a day and flossing your teeth regularly are two things you can do to prevent or even eliminate bad breath. Proper oral hygiene can also help avert gum diseases, which can also cause halitosis.

Stress

It is important to emphasize that rest and recreation are not luxuries but necessities. People who live stressful lives are more prone to getting serious illnesses and infections, which may also be causing halitosis. Also, stress can wreak havoc to your system, such that it triggers over-production of digestive enzymes that can actually cause bad breath. If you feel that your schedule is truly hectic, better find a way to de-stress or else you might find yourself having foul-smelling breath, which your boy friend or girl friend will totally abhor.

Dehydration

Mild dehydration is actually a common problem that can cause halitosis. A lot of people do not really realize that they are already suffering from mild dehydration because they are so busy or they unknowingly consume a lot of beverages that are diuretics, thereby promoting excessive elimination of water from the body. In order to increase your water content, make sure to drink around six to eight glasses of water daily.

Infections

Infections in the sinuses and throat usually include halitosis as a symptom. That's why people who have colds also have foul-smelling breath. This is due to the proliferation of bacteria in the nose and throat areas. However, once the infection has been eliminated, bad breath usually goes away.

Intestinal Problems

The food that you eat can actually cause halitosis. People who eat a lot of meat sometimes develop halitosis because of the overproduction of saliva and digestive enzymes that are needed to digest the high amount of meat.

Aside from that, a diet high in starches, cellulose and sugars can also cause halitosis. It seems that the bacteria inside the mouth produce foul odor as a result of the decaying carbohydrates.

Certain vitamin deficiencies may also lead to bad breath. So eating healthy foods that are rich in vitamins can be helpful in preventing vitamin deficiencies. Moreover, make sure that your colon is clean and can efficiently absorb the nutrients from the food you eat to prevent bad breath, among other things.

If you are having intestinal problems such as constipation, or have been suffering bad breath because of your poor eating habits, you may want to try internal cleansing so that your colon can more efficiently absorb the vitamins and minerals you eat. To make colon cleansing a lot easier, you can use Colopril. For more information about this product, just visit