Monday, November 19, 2007

7 Bad Breath Cures

By Tara Fraser



You’re pretty, you have a great body, a nice complexion, and great teeth. There’s just one problem; your breath is atrocious.


Save for halitosis, which usually stems from the intestines, bad breath can be easily treated and, with some time and dedication, you can kiss bad breath goodbye for good.

Bad breath cures #1
Visit the dentist
I know it can get expensive and I have yet to meet a woman who likes going to the dentist, but it is important to get a cleaning every six months in order to avoid plaque buildup and gingivitis, among other things.

The cleaning you get from a dentist feels unlike anything else and if you want to make sure that you breath stays fresh, this is one important step you cannot let fall by the wayside.

Bad breath cures #2
Avoid sugar

Without eliminating it completely from your diet, if you know that you are going on a date or that you will be in close proximity with people’s noses while you talk to them, make sure that you avoid sugar that day.

Sugar is used like food by bacteria that live in your mouth and at the back of your throat, which is what causes offensive odors. So if you opt to chew mint gum, make sure it’s sugar-free.

Bad breath cures #3
Floss & scrape

Brushing your teeth is a given and I don’t need to go into why it’s necessary to brush at least twice a day. But what most people don’t do is floss. I know it’s a bore, but it doesn’t take more than a minute and can definitely help you eliminate unwanted stank you’re your mouth.

As well, you can use your toothbrush or invest in a tongue scraper to get rid of any bacteria that’s on your tongue. If your tongue is white, then you especially need to get started on brushing your tongue ASAP. A white tongue may be the result of yeast buildup, as well as other, more serious medical conditions.

Bad breath cures #4
Eat parsley

After every meal, have a bunch of parsley snips on hand that you can chew and swallow. Rinse your mouth with water to avoid getting any stuck in your teeth.

Sometimes, if you don’t have gum and can’t brush your teeth, parsley works in the same way by neutralizing your breath.

Bad breath cures #5
Eat & drink well

Hunger and thirst can lead to excess bad breath (this is what causes morning breath), and you’ll begin to notice that whenever you feel hungry or thirsty your saliva will even begin to taste bad.
Eat something small every couple of hours so that you never feel like you’re starving and try to drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day (e.g. if you weigh 120 pounds, half of that is 60, so you need 60 ounces, or almost eight glasses of water each day).

Bad breath cures #6
Gargle with hydrogen peroxide

Although it sounds crazy, gargling with 1/3 cup hydrogen peroxide (3%) and 2/3 cup water will neutralize your breath for up to eight hours.

When you do it, you will have this weird taste in your mouth, which is normal. It will release oxygen in your mouth which kills the anaerobic bacteria.

Don’t do it daily, however, as it may begin to eat away at your tooth enamel.

Bad breath cures #7
Clean your colon
You are probably wondering what your backside has to do with your mouth, but if you think about it, it’s not that difficult to figure out. When your intestines are clogged up, terrible stenches release themselves via your anus or your mouth.

If you cleanse your colon, however, chances are your breath and gas problem will improve. That said, slowly add more fiber to your diet to ensure natural and consistent intestinal cleansing. If you prefer more immediate effects, see your doctor.

Fresh breath is great

If you do all of the above and still find yourself having issues with your breath, it may be indicative of something more serious and it’s probably best if you visit a doctor.

Bad breath is a problem most of us deal with on a morning-to-morning basis, but with some time and dedication, we can all make sure that every man we come in contact with revels in our sweet-smelling mouth.

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