Bad breath, or halitosis in medical terminology, is a very common problem. Though many people affected by it may not be aware that they suffer from bad breath, and it is important that they discover the problem soon. This is because bad breath is an "embarrassing" problem and sooner or later, people will turn away from you rather than face rotten breath. More than the problem itself is the worry that you may have this issue, without having someone close to you to bring your attention to it. It is comparatively easy to keep things under control providing you have a basic understanding of the causes of bad breath.

What Causes Bad Breath

If you are wondering what causes bad breath, here are some common culprits:

1. Food-related causes: Foods that have strong odors - e.g., onion, garlic - can cause temporary bad breath. Sometimes even brushing and flossing adequately are not enough in getting rid of the odors as they find their way into the blood stream after being digested. One quick-fix solution would be to avoid them, especially at social gatherings, or to have on hand an instant mouth freshener containing mint, cardmamom, and cloves to spray into you mouth immediately after the meal.

2. Mouth bacteria: Food particles that get stuck between the teeth after meals are a feasting ground for odor-causign bacteria to grow on. The solution is maintaining a structured and disciplined oral hygiene schedule that should include cleaning of the tongue, flossing and brushing your teeth the right way.

3. Medical causes: Certain medical conditions - like diabetis and ketosis - can also be a cause of bad breath. So it is imperative that you consult your dentist and if required, your physician if you suspect a medical condition to be the cause.

Eliminating What Causes Bad Breath

Because bad breath can be the result of various factors, one of the best ways to find what causes bad breath in your case is to consult a dentist on a regular basis. Blood tests can also spring a surprise and lay bare the real cause of your bad breath. You must remember that bad breath could be a symptom of something more serious and therefore getting a medical opinion is always a good idea. However, you must take adequate precautions to ward off bad breath - running to the dentis or doctor every time that you have a problem is probably not a good idea, you need to ensure that your body is fit and fine and is well-immunised against various condition, and this includes bad breath.

Under normal circumstances, good habits and a structured regimen would be adequate actions to take to combat bad breath. So, stay away from tobacco and too much meat, restrict your intake of foods that create strong odours such as onions and garlic, and regularly brush and floss your teeth. This may sound like Mum talking, but it is good advice.

There are various OTC (over-the-counter) treatments available for bad breath. Sadly though, most of them are completely ineffectual and may even add to your problem.

There is one new product on the market - Chlorine Dioxide Mouthwashes -that claims to completely be able to eliminate bad breath. These mouthwashes claim to kill bad breath by attacking the sulfur compounds that cause bad breath, rather than just masking the smell as conventional mouthwashes do.

However, for all we know, these claims may be exaggerated because chlorine dioxide has been used for years in municipal water supply systems. Use your own judgment when buying one of these products, but there is probably no harm in giving it a try at least.

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