Bad breath comes from within not necessarily the mouth.Be careful when eating spicy foods or garlic.
There are lots of myths about taking care of bad breath. Here are three things you may have heard about bad breath that are not true:
Myth #1 - Mouthwash will make bad breath go away.
Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily. If you do use mouthwash, look for an antiseptic (kills the germs that cause bad breath) and plaque-reducing one with a seal from the American Dental Association (ADA). When you're deciding which dental products to toss into your shopping cart, it's always a good idea to look for those that are accepted by the ADA. Also, ask your dentist what he or she recommends.
Myth #2 - As long as you brush your teeth, you shouldn't have bad breath.
The truth is that most people only brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which just doesn't cut it. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, you should brush for at least 2 minutes at least twice a day. Remember to brush your tongue, too - bacteria love to hang out there. It's equally important to floss because brushing alone won't remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between your teeth and gums.
Myth #3 - If you breathe into your hand, you'll know when you have bad breath.
Wrong! When you breathe, you don't use your throat the same way you do when you talk. When you talk, you tend to bring out the odors from the back of your mouth (where bad breath originates), which simply breathing doesn't do. Also, because we tend to get used to our own smells, it's hard for a person to tell if he or she has bad breath.
If you're concerned about bad breath, make sure you're taking care of your teeth and mouth properly. Some sugar-free gums and mints can temporarily mask odors, too.
If you brush and floss properly and visit your dentist for regular cleanings, but your bad breath persists, you may have a medical problem like sinusitis or gum disease. Call your doctor or dentist if you suspect a problem. They can figure out if something else is behind your bad breath and help you take care of it.
2006-06-22 06:03:23
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answer #1
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answered by Kitty? 6
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The bacteria that cause bad breath live and breed on the backs of our tongues and in our throats. These bacteria apparently have the ability to digest mucous and break it down into what are called Sulfide molecules. These molecules cause the bad breath and give us the bitter taste in our mouths.
Have you got a white or yellow coated tongue? This could be the reason. Are you a smoker? The tongue gets coated especially in smokers - usually yellow if a heavy smoker. It's worth noting that with regards to helping bad breath Homoeopathic remedies will probably be the best bet. Brushing the teeth cleans them but is not that beneficial to bad breath. At first it is, but then when the minty taste goes away, it's back to bad breath again.
Apparently, nearly all toothpastes contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate [SOAP]. This is put into toothpaste to make it foam up and look as if it's doing something but it can also interfere with the actual 'do-good' ingredients in the toothpaste. Hope this helps.
2006-06-22 13:42:33
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answer #2
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answered by Den 2
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Bad breath can be caused by any number of things.... most commonly halitosis, which is a bacterial condition. There are several ways to get rid of bad breath: use a tongue scraper every day (be sure to use it especially in the back of your tongue near your throat as that is where a lot of bacteria thrive). Another great idea is to brush at least 2-3 times a day. And yet another great idea is to gargle with hydrogen peroxide. You have to be careful with this last option though as it can strip the enamel off your teeth. Usually your gargle with one part hydrogen peroxide to one equal part water. What you shouldn't do is use mouthwash that contains alcohol. The alcohol content will dry out your mouth which will just end up worsening the problem.
2006-06-22 13:07:38
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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If you're already flossing, brushing and using mouthwash preferably Listerine (I think it's the best). Then your bad breath could be caused by some medical problem. When is the last time you had a complete physical. I had a problem with bad breath years ago and I wasn't smoking at the time, tuns out I had a gallbladder infection. This is just one of the reasons for bad breath when you have something physically wrong inside. Could also be a problem in your intestines. Those are just afew that I can think of, off hand.
2006-06-22 13:09:25
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answer #4
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answered by whtecloud 5
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Bad breath can be caused by bacteria on the tounge and in plaque, there is actually a term for it Halitosis and excess of bacteria growing in the mouth,,,,,to prevent brush atleast 2 times a day 3 is better and use a listerne type mouthwash that will help
2006-06-22 13:05:43
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answer #5
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answered by Alicia F 3
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it's usually the tounge that is the cause of bad breath! try brushing it with a tooth brush or scrapper? or there is this mouth wash that is awesome it removes all the muck rom your mouth that causes/ can cause bad breath. it's called dentyl! we use the clove flavour one, it's blue on top and pink on the bottom. you can when you've rinsed and gargled see all the nasty bad breath causing yuck in the sink. hope you find what you need? xx
2006-06-22 13:19:56
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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There are many factors that can weigh in to bad breath. Here is a website that really does well with stating the causes of bad breath, remedies for it, how to do a bad breath test, etc.
http://www.dentalgentlecare.com/new_page_7.htm
2006-06-22 13:07:09
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answer #7
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answered by TelleyJade 3
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Bad breath can be caused by a build up of bacteria on the tongue. Add a tongue scraper to your dental hygiene routine and remember to brush your tongue when you brush your teeth. Also, use a good mouthwash.
2006-06-22 13:05:56
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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Some bad breath comes from bacteria on your tounge. So brush your tounge or get a tounge scraper. Also watch some foods you eat that my make your breath worse and keep brushing your teeth regularly.
2006-06-22 13:05:54
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answer #9
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answered by ? 2
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Well bad breath is caused from a lot of things if you want rid of it see your dentist - mostly bad breath is caused by Tooth Decay or if you smoke the tar-tar eats away at the tooth and causes bad breath. (im 13 and quite smart lol) MWAHAHAHAHA
2006-06-22 13:06:06
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answer #10
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answered by Fell Down The Rabbit Hole 2
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