How Can You Get Rid of Bad Breath For Good?
By Isabelle Farmer | Published on October 2, 2010 | 0 Comments
Whether you’re talking with colleagues, on a date, or out for a night with friends, nothing can ruin a good time and make you self conscious like the realization that you have bad breath. As you scramble through your purse or pockets searching for something to solve your problem, chances are that mints, gum, and sprays will only cover your problem for a little while. In reality, you need a long-term solution to ensure that this never happens again.
As crazy as it may seem, most dentists admit that they can usually tell just by smelling a patient’s breath what is causing the foul odor. At Houston Smile Docs, a Houston, TX dental office, family dentist Isabelle Farmer DDS says that there are three main reasons why a patient may be suffering from bad breath:
- Clogged or infected sinuses: Sinuses that are clogged or infected have a particular odor because the bacteria that cause the infection is also present in your mouth. Unfortunately, brushing and mouthwash will only temporarily mask the problem because you need to treat the root of the problem—your sinus infection. If you know that you generally experience sinus problems due to illness or seasonal changes, then Dr. Farmer recommends speaking with your dentist to discover can be done to neutralize the bad smell.
- Eating certain foods: Evaluating and understanding the foods and beverages you consume can actually help fend off bad breath. Potent foods such as garlic and onions are actually sulfur compounds which resonate in your mouth and produce the lingering smell that may make you avoid your date after dinner. Alcohol is also another cause of bad breath because it dries out your mouth, thus preventing your saliva from neutralizing acids. Drinking or rinsing with water and brushing your teeth and tongue will help. If you still notice a problem, it’s best to speak with your dentist about your concerns because you may need to alter your diet.
- Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs): The third way that patients get bad breath is via volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) that preside predominantly on the tongue. Dr. Farmer generally recommends that patients with this problem use tongue scrapers to remove debris in the morning and then rinse their mouths out with Oxyfresh– a product that available in dental offices such as Houston Smile Docs.
Oxyfresh, Dr. Farmer says, has the ability to neutralize VSCs for six to 12 hours. Instead of simply acting as a mask for the odor like typical over-the-counter products, Oxyfresh attacks the odor from the start to effectively eliminate bad breath. While Oxyfresh is usually recommended for patients who suffer from VSCs, Dr. Farmer says that scraping the tongue to eliminate bacteria and reduce bad breath will work for everybody. The average person can still accumulate bacteria and debris overnight which won’t smell very good the next morning. Combined with brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, you can start the fight against bad breath from the moment you wake up.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.