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What’s the first thing you notice when you meet or greet someone? For many people, it’s a person’s smile that makes the first impression. While a smile can be bright and beautiful, it’s what’s behind that smile that can make or break you. We’re talking about bad breath. Everyone’s dealt with it at some point or another, and it can be incredibly embarrassing. When forced to deal with this situation, most people will rush for the breath mints or gum. The problem with this is that it just masks the problem, sweeps it under the rug. For a large part of the population bad breath is a serious condition, and should be dealt taken seriously when a solution is sought.
Causes of Bad Breath
The real cause of bad breath in the vast majority of cases is bacteria, and the decay of food particles in the mouth that don’t get removed when you brush your teeth. Bacteria that the mouth produces use these leftover food particles for their own benefit. Just like any other living organism that eats, bacteria produce waste afterwards. This waste usually is very acidic, and can lead to tooth decay. It is also very high in sulfur compounds, which causes bad breath odor.
Preventing Bad Breath
Practicing prevention and better oral hygiene should be the first step for anyone suffering from chronic bad breath or halitosis. Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day, use an antibacterial mouth rinse, and floss daily to remove any food particles and you’ll have a better chance of starving those bacteria out. If you do choose to use mints or gum, make absolutely sure that they’re sugar free, otherwise you’ll be defeating the purpose altogether.
If you’ve made these adjustments and are still suffering from bad breath odor, there are still some options available. First, look at the products you are using for your oral hygiene. If you look at the ingredient list and see anything like sodium lauryl sulfate, or alcohol, then that could be a part of the problem. Both of those ingredients, found in toothpaste and mouthwash respectively, are drying agents. When your mouth is dry, and there is less saliva, then bacteria has a free reign to grow out of control. Saliva is very high in oxygen, and the harmful types of bacteria that cause odor flourish in environments where oxygen isn’t present. It may be sound strange, but the products you use to combat bad breath could very well be causing it.
Using Natural Breath Fresheners
There are also natural breath fresheners which eliminate the odor and also attack the bacteria which can cause the bad breath.
Another possibility to consider is that in a small number of cases, bad breath can be caused by issues in the stomach and digestive system. If you have addressed all other options, consult your doctor and there are tests that can determine if this is the cause of your bad breath.
Did it ever occur to you that the least expensive and least painful option might be found in using a natural breath freshener? Why not try a great product that provides natural relief?
