Many people suffer from an occasional case of bad breath.
From bad breath resulting from eating potent smelling foods to the odiferous morning breath, everyone has had bad breath at some time or another.
If you have dealt with this occasional problem, then you probably are not consistently worried about your breath.
Then again, maybe you are worried most of the time because you know how uncomfortable bad breath around others makes you feel! The time honored standby of popping gum or a mint into your mouth is always a quick and easy fix for bad breath; specifically bad breath caused by aforementioned consumption of stinky foods like garlic, onions or seafood.
If you do not care to chew gum or pop a mint, consider packing a small toothbrush and toothpaste in your purse or briefcase.
You can use this after and in-between meals to do a quick - but thorough! - brushing of your teeth.
A tip for teeth brushing: always include your tongue where germs and bacteria can try to hang on, contributing to your halitosis! If this is a problem which is particularly bothersome to you then you may have to change your diet and avoid foods that cause mouth odor.
But what about the ongoing bad breath, the chronic odor that comes from your mouth that does not go away after brushing, gum chewing or mint crunching? Heads up everyone: your problem could be more than just food and a trip to your dentist is definitely in order.
Using gum, mints or mouthwash could just be masking the problem and not solving what could be a greater matter.
Your dentist can perform a thorough exam on your mouth and help you determine the source of your bad breath.
Perhaps you have an infection that needs to be taken care of before it turns into a more serious problem.
If your dentist does not notice any problems with your teeth or gums, he or she may ask you about your personal habits and daily routine: do you drink alcohol, smoke or take medication? Any of these factors could possibly lead to smelly breath.
You should be making routine six month visits to your doctor's office; a good routine will help keep your teeth in tiptop shape and your dentist can likely catch any problems before they begin.
Brush your teeth as often as recommended by your dentist using a good toothbrush and toothpaste and don't forget to floss! Another thing that can cause bad breath is an excessively dry mouth.
This often occurs when you sleep and have either an illness that requires a medication that will dry you out, or you sleep with your mouth open because you are unable to breathe through your nose.
In this case mouthwash and toothpaste will again only mask the problem and not provide a solution to the cause.
What may help is a specialized mouth rinse made for dry mouth.
See your healthcare provider if you believe you have excessive dry mouth.