Saturday 19 January 2008

Bad Breath Solutions

By Patricia Harbington

For people that suffer from halitosis, the quest for a bad breath solution that actually works is a never-ending one. They are constantly on the outlook for a new solution that will forever eliminate the acute embarrassment that they suffer from every time they open their mouths to speak to someone.

What most people don't realize is that are lots of effective solutions available, including a number of very efficient natural cures for bad breath. But the first step in locating a successful bad breath solution is to understand the root cause of the halitosis, and most people have no idea what is causing their bad breath because they are confused by all of the myths surrounding it. So let's look at some of these myths and clear up some of this confusion.

Contrary to popular belief, you cannot smell your own breath. Blowing into your cupped hands and taking a whiff is pretty much useless because your nose and your mouth are all interconnected and your breath, regardless of how bad it smells to others, smells completely normal to your nose.

Halitosis is not something that can be passed down through DNA, so you can stop blaming your parents for your bad breath. While it is possible to inherit a genetic predisposition towards odor-causing bacteria, it is physically impossible to inherit halitosis.

One common misconception about bad breath is that it originates in your stomach. While this true for those suffering from digestive halitosis, it is not the case for most people. That's because digestive halitosis, resulting from problematic digestive stomach enzymes, is a relatively uncommon condition. For most people, bad breath is the result of odor-causing bacteria that has built up in the back of the throat and on the tongue.

Many people believe that mouthwash, gum and breath mints are all effective bad breath solutions, but that is simply not true. All that they really do is mask the nasty odor for a little while. Mouthwashes are actually counter-productive because they contain alcohol which dries out your mouth, causing the bacteria to flourish and produce even fouler smelling breath.

Many people believe that eating certain foods like garlic, onions, and strong cheese are what causes bad breath. Technically, that is not true either. It is the particles from these foods that linger in your mouth, stimulating all of the odor-causing bacteria that really make your breath stink. So, popping a mint does not help. You need to remove these food particles if you want eliminate the foul odors they cause.

One bizarre myth is that probiotics and hydrogen peroxide can clear up Not true! Neither one of these can cure bad breath, and regular use of hydrogen peroxide can significantly damage the tissue in your mouth. Do yourself a favor and try a more natural cure for bad breath instead of a toxin like peroxide.

So keep in mind that not everything you hear about getting rid of halitosis is true. There are many safe, effective bad breath solutions out there, you just need to do your homework and be able to separate fact from fiction in order to find one.

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