Bad Breath

Proper Dental Hygiene or Breath Mints, Which is Better for Bad Breath?

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People often wonder which is better – good dental hygiene or breath mints. Some think just by popping in a breath mint that this is going to solve their bad breath troubles. Others think the only way to prevent bad breath is to practice proper dental hygiene every single day. So, what is the right answer? The right answer is that there is no substitute for practicing proper hygiene. (Using breath mints is only going to work for a short period of time.) But – both can be used, and I’ll talk about the pros and cons of each.

The big problem with breath mints is the fact that the breath mint isn’t taking care of the bacteria that is causing the bad breath. When you learn about why you have bad breath, you will learn it’s because you have bacteria in your mouth that is causing the nasty smell. All that the breath mint is doing is sticking to the taste buds to give you that tingly feeling. You need something that will kill the bacteria to truly get rid of bad breath.

So, what should you be doing then in terms of proper dental hygiene in order to make sure that this method is doing the job you need it to do? This is a good question because not many know the right way to practice proper dental hygiene. So, here is what you should be doing.

Brush twice per day.

The first thing that you want to do is that you want to make sure you brush at least twice a day. The thing about this is that the bacteria can build up with the tarter. Therefore, you want to keep that build up from happening. This is how you do that. You make sure to brush and the toothpaste that you use will handle this as it has the things in it that keep the bad breath away.

You need to know the right times to brush as well. The thing that most people fail to remember is that not only should they brush in the morning as everyone knows about morning breath. Some of you have awakened to a partner that has that all too well. The other thing though is that you want to brush after meals. This is so that you can get rid of that bad smell.

Floss each day.

The other thing you want do is that you want to be sure that you floss. This is another place that the bacteria can really build up. You can keep this from happening by flossing. Flossing removes all those food particles and keeps plaque from building up between the teeth which could be another reason that you have to deal with this so much.

Clean your tongue.

There is something else you should be doing that is a part of proper dental hygiene. This would be scraping the tongue. Yes, the bacteria can live here too. This is never really pleasing and you want to keep this from happening. It gets all those bits of foods that leave your breath smelling nasty and makes your mouth to smell even fresher.

Mouth wash (if desired).

Then, the last thing that you can use as one more preventative measures is that you can use mouth wash. This kills bacteria all the time so that your mouth is somewhat cleaner than it would be hadn’t you had used this during the day. This can eliminate bad breath as well.

Breath mints, as a last resort.

Now, when you need an extra boost every now and then like for a job interview or something where you have to be sure, then a breath mint could come in handy, but that isn’t going to eliminate the root cause. It’s just going to hide the odor; not kill the bacteria. This is why practicing proper dental hygiene is better to do.


This is what dentists have been preaching about for times to come. This is what you have to be aware of. When you are working around people, this is something you really need to know about. Too many people don’t know this and they suffer from it. Getting check ups and cleanings is something else you can do and if you notice that even after doing all this that you suffer from bad breath, then you should bring this up with them. That’s what you should remember to do which can help to eliminate this problem and is the most effective way of treating this.

Post Nasal Drip Could be Causing Your Bad Breath

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Those of us who have sinus issues know how bad it is when we lay down to sleep and then wake up in the morning stuffed up. This is because of the fact that when you go to sleep, everything drips. It drips from your sinuses and into your lungs and such. Therefore, you will find that this is quite possibly the main cause of your bad breath.

One might wake up feeling as though they have a frog in their throat. Many dentists have seen this all too often. They say that it’s bacteria that you have in your throat. This is what is draining at night, when this drains from your nose and into your throat. Therefore, this is why it’s so hard for some because it’s not something they can help. If anything, they are doing all they can in order to make sure that this goes away, but nothing will work. Therefore, they need to know what they can do to see this go away.

The best way to get rid of post nasal drip is to control the sinuses. There are all sorts of medications out there that one can try. This will dry up the sinuses which are needed. However, something that they can also do is use a moisturizing spray. The thing is, when you are buying these, you want to be sure that you don’t get one that has any additives in it. This just makes your post nasal drip worse!

Many people think that this is going to be a quick fix. However, that’s not the case at all. What one will find is that they might battle sinus problems for the longest of times. Now, that is something that can be hard to deal with because as long as this isn’t going anywhere, then the bad breath isn’t going to go anywhere. That’s the thing that one wants to remember.

Since this is a chronic thing, you will also want to be sure to keep on what you are doing so that you can get a total grip on your sinuses. That is the only way that a solution is going to come about. For some people, it might also mean that you have to talk to your doctor. The doctor can prescribe a medication that will help with this. Yet, again, it might be the same thing as we just described. Once you start this treatment you might not be able to stop it.

Finding the medication you should take won’t really be the hard part. It’s the making sure you take it all the time to notice the difference. That is the downfall about having something that is chronic. This is what many have learned. One might also have to learn what triggers are for their sinus problems. This is how you can learn about when your sinuses are going to be worse than before. For some, it might be that they just simply have sinus problems around chemicals. For others, pollen might cause this as well. There are all sorts of things that can cause the post nasal drip.

The other thing that one can be sure to do is that they can be sure that they eliminate all other reasons one might have issues with their sinuses. For this, they might have to go about and brush on a normal basis and all that. That can be seen to make a difference in those who suffer from sinus issues and bad breath. These are all the things that one might need to know about when they are looking at how to handle this. The more you handle this, the better off you are. So, if you feel this is something you are dealing with, then you need to be sure that you have the means to go about and make this happen. Talking to your doctor can greatly influence this. When one can go about to do this, then you can do something about this.


How to Clean Your Tongue Using a Tongue Scraper

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The idea of using a tongue scraper isn’t one that the average person will think of. Heck, I never used a tongue scraper until I started researching bad breath in greater detail.

You might be wondering, what is a tongue scraper? And why should you use it? And how does it even work? This is the normal reaction. The thing about this is that it’s quite easy to use, and there are many reasons that one should use one.

The first thing that one must realize is that using a tongue scraper is just one way to practice proper hygiene. Tongue scraping has been seen to help many people to get rid of their bad breath. The reason behind this is that there are food particles that are stuck on your tongue. The bacteria that cause bad breath sit on your tongue as well. It’s rather easy to get rid of this when you scrape your tongue with a tongue scraper. This is why dentists suggest that you do this.

The other thing you will find is that you should use this in the morning. The reason for this is because of the fact that when you sleep, you will find that you have toxins. Now, the body works on getting rid of them for the most part at night. However, you will find that this doesn’t always happen. The body still leaves some and the place that they go to sit would be right on the tongue. If you guessed that, then you are right. You want to make sure that you don’t absorb these toxins. That is why you have a film in your mouth that captures all these.

The thing with using a tongue scraper is that you will improve your taste buds for one thing. When too much plaque and other things are on the tongue, then the taste buds get clogged. This keeps you from getting the best experience when you eat. This isn’t something any of us want. We want to be able to enjoy the foods that we eat. This is one way of making sure that this doesn’t happen. That is one benefit of tongue scraping.

The other thing that this can do is that it can clear the sinuses. The thing about this is that it keeps the bacteria from traveling into the respiratory system. Therefore, your sinuses don’t get congested because you have a bunch of mucus which is caused by the bacteria. This is something you might be glad to hear about, especially if you ever had post nasal drip symptoms.

Now that you know some of the good points about this, you might want to learn about how to do this properly so you see the most results. This is what you do:

If you are going to use the U scraper, you need to hold each end with your hands. You take the arch and put it on the back of your tongue. You want to scrape forward a few times. You might notice that you have a gag reflex, but this is normal. As you do this more often, you will get quite used to this.

When you are done with this, you then rinse with water. Then, you will want to clean the scraper and dry it as well. Sometimes, after you have done this, you might want to use toothpaste or baking soda on your freshly scrubbed tongue. This will clean it so that it is disinfected.

This is how easy it is to then go about to use a tongue scraper. You now know why to use one too.

Dentists tell everyone that they should do this every day. It’s important to do this, but very few people in the United States clean their tongues on a regular basis. This is something that they have been teaching for years around the world, but now they are putting more emphasis on this.

Tongue cleaning is something that can do wonders for any of you who have been experiencing bad breath. You want to be sure that you get rid of bad breath as it can put a damper on your day, but more so, there are more reasons to do this than just the bad breath. You have read about these reasons in the paragraphs above and it can be just what the doctor ordered.

7 Bits of Advice You Should Have Learned At The Dentist

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Do you remember anything from your dental checkups? There really is a lot to learn, and here are some of the most important things you might not even remember hearing:

Dentist Visits Are Important

Regular checkups are a good way to prevent cavities and a host of other oral problems. (This usually comes up right before they ask about scheduling your next appointment…)

Dentists Screen For Oral Cancer

Did you think they just look for cavities? Oral cancer is a serious disease, with people dying from it every hour, so each dental checkup includes a screening for oral cancer.

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

If there’s one thing that stands out, it’s the basic advice of brushing twice a day.

(With a flouride toothpaste.)

Make Sure You Floss, Too

This usually comes up because your gums start to bleed at the mere sight of dental floss! They ask how often you floss, and they’ll know if you’re lying when you say “at least once a day, if not more!”

Eat Healthy To Keep Your Teeth In Good Shape

Eat a healthy diet. Sugary foods and soft drinks do a number on your teeth, so eating healthy is an easy way to avoid cavities.

Change Your Toothbrush

They will wear out, not to mention get covered in lots of germs. Try to get a new toothbrush every three months, and always change it after you have been sick. (If you keep using the same one, you are just putting your sick germs right back into your body!)

Oral Hygiene Is Much Less Painful Than Oral Surgery

You are better off taking the time to brush and floss than to be lazy and end up getting your teeth pulled later.


Related Posts

10 Basic (Yet Effective) Ways to Prevent Bad Breath

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While some bad breath problems can be complicated, a lot of them can be prevented with simple, healthy habits.

1. Brush Your Teeth Twice Each Day.

As the dentist recommends, brush twice each day – once in the morning and once before bed. Make sure to brush your tongue, too! You can also use a tongue scraper if your tongue gets a thick, white coating on it.

2. Floss Your Teeth Once Each Day.

Use floss to remove particles stuck between your teeth (that’s where a toothbrush can’t reach).

3. Visit The Dentist For Regular Checkups.

Make sure you go to the dentist every six months. They’ll be able to fix most things that could cause bad breath, before anything goes wrong.

4. Use Mouth Wash.

Mouth wash cleans and disinfects your entire mouth. Try something powerful, but make sure it doesn’t contain alcohol. Home remedies include hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (each of which can be mixed with water to make your own mouthwash).

5. Avoid Tobacco (Chewing tobacco, cigarettes, etc.)

Dries out your mouth which makes it easier for nasty bacteria to grow. Also, the tobacco leaves a nasty smell.

6. Eat Parsley.

It’s true. Parsley (and other green, leafy vegetables) contain a compound called chlorophyll that is a natural breath freshener.

7. Avoid Alcohol.

Alcoholic drinks can dry out your mouth. Also, avoid mouthwash and breath mints that contain alcohol. (Choose TheraBreath mints, which do not contain alcohol.)

8. Chew On Raw Carrots.

Snacking on crunchy vegetables can help stop plaque from forming on your teeth.

9. Drink Water.

It will keep your mouth from drying out.

10. Chew Sugarless Gum.

This will increase the flow of saliva, preventing odor-causing bacteria from forming.

TheraBreath gum is ideal.

4 Foods That Prevent Bad Breath (Halitosis)

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If you have problems with bad breath or you just like to eat cloves of garlic, chewing on some of these foods can keep bad breath at bay.

1. Parsley (and other herbs)

Parsley, along with some other herbs and leafy green vegetables, contains compounds that have been shown to fight bad breath. So chew on some parsley, spearmint, or coriander after your next meal.

2. Carrots (and other crunchy vegetables)

Crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery sticks (plus fruits like apples) can actually clean bits of food and plaque off your teeth while you chew them. By cleaning off the plaque, you are preventing odor-causing bacteria from forming. Plus, the increased saliva production will keep your mouth clean.

3. Citrus Fruits (and others rich in Vitamin C)

Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, along with any others high in Vitamin C, fight off free radicals in your body. So it comes as no surprise that they also fight off odor-causing bacteria in your mouth.

4. Yogurt

Studies have shown that the active cultures in yogurt can reduce the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in your mouth. Less sulfides, less odor!

The Vitamin D helps, too, so other dairy products could help.

Bad Breath Prevention Tips

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Here are some tips.

1. Don’t use conventional breath mints.

Sugar makes bad breath even worse. That’s the problem with conventional breath mints; they’re all sugar! And all bacteria grow in sugar; they love it! So when that mint taste goes away after 5 minutes, what does your breath actually smell like? Hmm…

Even worse are those ones that you swallow. Bad breath definitely does not come from the stomach!

Taste is not what determines fresh breath. Oxygen is what really matters.

Dr. Katz says, “The breath-freshening power of my gum lasts long after the taste runs out – this is because the taste is not what is responsible for the breath control.”

2. Use baking soda.

Dr. Katz says, “If you are having trouble with a metallic or sour/bitter taste, sprinkle some baking soda on the bristles of your toothbrush, then apply toothpaste and brush. The baking soda helps neutralize any excess acids in your mouth.”

Don’t forget to brush your tongue!

3. Switch to TheraBreath toothpaste.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, otherwise known as soap, is a common ingredient in common toothpastes. In many studies, it has been linked to the production of canker sores because it irritates your oral mucosa. Play it safe and switch over to the good stuff.

4. Drink water.

As simple as it sounds, drinking lots of water is very helpful in the prevention of bad breath. A dry mouth easily harbors bacteria which leads to bad breath, so be sure to consistently drink enough water to keep your mouth moist.

5. Drink a cup of green tea a day.

Researchers at the Chicago College of Dentistry found that polyphenols, which are found in green tea, inhibit the growth of an odor-causing bacteria by 30%. Green tea is full of antioxidants and other good stuff so you should drink it even if you’re not worried about bad breath.

6. Quit smoking (or don’t start).

Smoking is horrible for your breath, and let’s not forget the rest of your body.

7. Breath through your nose.

The simple act of breathing through your nose instead of your mouth will reduce the chances of dry mouth, and therefore, will reduce the chance of bad breath.


What Causes Bad Breath?

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It’s a common question, here’s the answer…

For the most part, poor oral hygiene is to blame. It starts with bacteria that builds up on your tongue and between your teeth and then breeds. These bacteria are the sources of the odor.

Bad breath could also be caused by a medical condition such as gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, or dry mouth (xerostomia).

Brushing and flossing regularly (along with these tips) will help most people. However, some people will need products specifically designed to eliminate bad breath.

Fortunately, there is a company named TheraBreath that makes such products, and you can buy them online.

Pro Tip: How To Smell Your Own Breath

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Did you ever cup your hands over your mouth and nose and try to smell your own breath?

Don’t kid yourself, that never worked and it never will. You’re breathing out the same air that was already at the back of your nose, so the smell won’t be any different.

But here’s a trick that does work:

(Make sure your hands are clean first!)

  1. Lick the back of your hand.
  2. Let the saliva dry.
  3. Then smell the back of your hand.

That will let you smell any odor-causing bacteria from your mouth, so you are smelling your true breath.