Bad Breath Myth #1

You can find out if you have bad breath by exhaling over your cupped hand. True and false. It is possible to determine the presence of bad breath by using this technique. However, it may only work if your halitosis is so severe, or if you have a very sensitive sense of smell. The truth is that identifying your own bad breath is very hard because your nose is actually connected to your mouth. As such, many internal odors may be screened, including that of bad breath.

If you seriously think that you might have bad breath, you can confirm the situation by any of these methods. First, you can go to the dentist and ask to be checked with the halimeter, a dental instrument specifically used to diagnose halitosis. Second, you can ask a trusty friend to simply tell you. But the easiest way to check for bad breath is by scraping the innermost part of your tongue with a teaspoon or a cotton swab. After a minute, hold the spoon or swab to your nose and get a whiff. Whatever odor you get, that is exactly how your breath smells.

Bad Breath Myth #2

Bad breath comes from the intestines. True and false, but mostly false. While it is possible that bad breath can stem from digestive disorders, it is more commonly a result of leftover food particles stuck in the crevices of your mouth due to irregular brushing and failure to floss everyday.

Bad Breath Myth #3

Bad breath can be avoided by brushing and flossing regularly. True. This is a very simple yet very effective way to get rid of bad breath or avoid getting it in the first place. Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal, including snacks, to clear your mouth of excess food particles every time you eat, but two or three times a day is sufficient, according to most dentists. Flossing must be done daily. In addition to these common dental practices, it is also vital that you clean your tongue after brushing to prevent bacteria from accumulating, which can eventually lead to bad breath.

Bad Breath Myth #4

Bad breath can be eliminated by using a mouthwash. False. According to most advertisements, you will have fresh breath just by using a mouthwash. Unfortunately, these dental products only give a temporary solution to your halitosis problem. Some of them can even aggravate the problem in the long run. If you want to completely eliminate the problem of bad breath, you should practice good dental hygiene, eat foods rich in fiber and drink plenty of water everyday.

Mouthwashes can be used as a temporary breath freshener in situations where it's not practical to brush your teeth right away. But even in these circumstances, you should avoid those that have some kind of alcohol among their ingredients. These products cause dry mouth, which then encourages the growth of oral bacteria that produces that nasty odor that we know as bad breath.

When purchasing a mouthwash, you can consider the products that contain chlorine dioxide. These will not dry up your mouth and are very effective in masking the foul odor released by certain oral bacteria, at least on a short term basis.

One particular brand of mouthwash, ProFresh Oral Rinse, has been tested to be more effective than others in this regard. The manufacturers of this dental product actually claim that their mouthwash is unique because it is the only one that actually contains chlorine dioxide that can counter the putrid smell released by oral bacteria. According to press releases from the company, other mouthwashes that claim to have chlorine dioxide actually has only sodium chlorite which is not that effective against bad breath.

Bad Breath Myth #5

Eating certain foods can give you bad breath. True and false. Once more, this depends on several other factors. For instance, we all know that eating onions or garlic can leave a nasty smell in the mouth that some people might call bad breath. However, this is only a temporary odor and is not really the same as having halitosis. The same goes for sulfur-rich foods like cabbage. In these cases, you might have bad breath after your meal but it will fade quickly especially if you brush your teeth immediately after eating.

However, if your bad breath is persistent and does not go away, you might want to consider reducing your intake of foods that are rich in sulfur. If you regularly consume these foods, naturally, sulfur will always be present in your digestive system. The strong stench of this chemical will come out in your breath every time you open your mouth. But this happens very rarely.

The more common cause of bad breath is still the lack of proper oral hygiene. To decrease your chances of getting bad breath, you must always be conscious of your mouth's cleanliness. Take the time to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily, clean your tongue properly and avoid sulfur-rich foods. This way, you can avoid getting bad breath in the first place.