Do you keep your hand in front of your mouth while talking? Do other people distance themselves from you while you talk? Has anyone told you that you have a problem of bad breath? If answer to any of the questions above is yes, you might be suffering from a condition know as halitosis. Tips to fight this condition, is necessary for you.



Halitosis refers to a condition of bad oral health characterized by persistent bad breath. On an average about 65% of Americans suffer from halitosis or bad breath. About 40 million Americans suffer from chronic halitosis, an undying bad breath. This bad breath or bad odor comes from the mouth and nose of a person.

If your, social as well as professional, life is suffering from halitosis, its time you should follow some advice and tips. Ideally one should consult a dentist immediately, but there are certain things, which when followed can certainly help you in halitosis.

First of all, you should brush your teeth twice a day on the regular basis. Your brushing should be thorough, and not fast. Brushing is done to remove unwanted and remaining food particles from the mouth on which bacteria thrives. Your brushing technique should be appropriate and thorough.

Saliva is an important component of your mouth. It acts as a body's natural mouthwash. Human saliva consists of antibiotic elements which help in reduction of bacteria in the mouth. Chewing sugarless gums and lozenges help in increase of saliva flow in the mouth. As saliva would be present in adequate amounts in the mouth, the production of bacteria causing bad breath would be drastically reduced. One thing must be made sure, that the gum should be sugar less.

Drinking adequate amount of water is a very good option for people suffering from halitosis. Intake of water keeps your mouth wet and hence controls the production of bacteria in your mouth. You should keep the water in the mouth for at least 20 seconds and swirl it in the mouth. It would remove all the unwanted food particles from the mouth. Bacteria thrive on these left food particles and by regular water intake you would cut down the food source of bacteria which causes bad breath.

The deficiency of vitamin C plays a major role in causing bad breath. As vitamin C is an essential nutrient for teeth strength and longevity, its deficiency causes bad breath. If you smoke, you should definitely increase the intake of vitamin C as nicotine in the cigarettes annihilates vitamin C. You should increase the consumption of citrus fruits and vegetables in your diet.

If you are suffering from bad breath, you can brush your tongue and teeth with baking soda. Of course directly brushing your teeth with baking soda would be disgusting, you can buy toothpastes which contain baking soda.

You can consider any of the over-the-counter mouthwashes which help your mouth stay clean and fresh.

You can rinse your mouth with an equal solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. You can swish a teaspoon of each in your mouth for a minute or so. Rinsing mouth with hydrogen peroxide is extremely beneficial. It releases free oxygen in the mouth which acts as a poison for bacteria causing bad breath.

Rinsing your mouth with bloody Mary's virgin or real in morning is effective against bad breath.

You should always consult your dentist, if the problem becomes worse. Keeping in mind the above tips, you can certainly reduce the chances of halitosis from your mouth.