The Complete Bad Breath Treatment Page!
Your friends may not tell
you if you have bad breath (bad breathe, halitosis, halotosis, halatosis,
halatossis, hallatosis, or however you spell it), but you definitely want to
know!
What Causes Bad Breath (Halitosis)?
The primary causes of bad breath originate in the oral cavity (mouth). Bacteria that live on the back of the tongue and on the gums between the teeth are the leading culprits. Other causes include tobacco products and some things that are eaten or drunk (garlic, alcohol).
The
Good News
Most bad breath can be controlled with proper dental hygene.
Self
Diagnosis
Many people check themselves for bad breath by breathing into their cupped hand, then quickly inhaling through the nose. This is actually pretty effective.
Another effective way to test yourself for halitosis to to use a tongue scraper, wait a few seconds, then sniff the scraper. If it doesn't smell nice, then your breath is likely to have the same problem.
You can also do the same procedure with dental floss.
If you visit your dentist or doctor:
Many patients find it somewhat embarrasing to discuss bad breath with a health care professional. They shouldn't, since your doctor and dentist run into this problem every day.
Preventing Bad Breath
- Thorough dental hygiene - brush at least twice a day, floss daily.
- Use a tongue scraper
A note about the medical recommendations on this page Some of the medications listed above are prescription drugs (requiring a doctor's prescription). Many Americans prefer to order prescription drugs from Canada or get their medications online, which may be American-sourced prescriptions on line or Canadian prescription drugs. Some Canadian pharmacies are able to offer their American clients online prescriptions for discount Canadian drugs. Other low cost drugs listed above are over the counter drugs (available as drugs without prescriptions) and do not require you to visit a doctor. In any case, you should consult your local physician before ordering or taking any medications. When dealing with Canadian pharmacies, it pays to comparison shop to get the best prices.
Click here to visit the Canadian Pharmacy Review Guide, which has hints and tips if you are interested in purchasing prescription drugs from a pharmacy in Canada, Europe or Mexico.