Halitosis Treatment: Steps You Can Take At Home

Halitosis, or bad breath, is a condition caused by numerous things. Therefore, treating it mostly depends on what causes it in the first place. Here is a list of several common causes of bad breath, as well as how to treat the condition. However, it is always advisable to consult a dentist before taking a self-remedied cure for bad breath. Most of the times, there may be a deep-rooted issue behind halitosis that requires an experienced hand to diagnose.

• Decaying Food Between Your Teeth

There is a reason dentists recommend you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Whenever you eat something, debris is lodged between your teeth while chewing. The particles build up each time you eat something, and eventually, they start decaying. In other words, they start rotting.

Now, we all know rotting give out a bad smell, so it goes without saying that most of the bad breath is a result of a build-up of rotting stuff in the mouth. The best way to start dealing with bad breath is by brushing your teeth at least twice a day.

How To Brush

• Use a medium-sized toothbrush with many soft bristles. Hard bristles will damage your teeth. Also, make sure you brush your tongue. You can use a separate tongue-scraper to brush your tongue lightly.

• Also, many dentists advice that you shouldn’t brush your teeth within 30 minutes of drinking an acidic drink. Doing so will likely lead to teeth abrasion, hence damaging your teeth.

• Make sure you use a fluoride toothpaste to get in there and clear any particles lodged between teeth. Also, make sure you use dental floss regularly to get at those particles that are too firmly lodged for brushing.

• Gastrointestinal Problems

Other times, bad breath can be the result of gastrointestinal problems. For instance, an H. pylori infection can cause halitosis, and the only way to treat it is by curing the disease. Another digestive problem that may cause bad breath is a gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Depending on the infection you have, the treatment varies, and most of the times the dentist will refer you to a specialized physician. For patients suffering from stomach ulcers, you need to take your antibiotics religiously as well use a proton pump inhibitor to eradicate the problem.

• Lifestyle

Lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking and coffee intake contribute to bad breath. If you suspect one of these lifestyle choices is the culprit, consider dropping the habit, or cutting back on it.

Also, drink lots of water to prevent your mouth from being parched. A dry mouth is prone to bad breath. Another way to keep your mouth wet is to chew sugar-free gum after eating. The gum stimulates the flow of saliva that washes away food particles.

Halitosis Treatment: Steps You Can Take At Home by William Jam Smith