This issue of Word of Mouth is devoted to halitosis, or bad breath as we more commonly refer to it. If you're suffering from bad breath, I urge you to try the technique I recommend in the article to keep your teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth as clean and bacteria-free as possible. Most bad breath is related to oral causes, and proper dental hygiene goes a long way in keeping breath fresh and non-offensive. Here's How Despite what you may read and hear in popular advertisements promoting bad breath remedies, internal and medical conditions constitute only a very small part of the causes of bad breath. And while food and tobacco may also contribute to bad breath, they're not the main culprits, either.
Halitosis is caused by sulfur compounds in the mouth.
These compounds are produced by bacteria that live within the oral cavity, especially on the gums and tongue. Although oral conditions related to halitosis include periodontal disease, dentures, partials, faulty restorations, mobile teeth, abscesses, oral thrush, and cancer, among others, even clinically healthy mouths can fall victim to bad breath. In order to most effectively eliminate halitosis, odor-causing bacteria and sulfur compounds must be removed from the mouth on a regular basis. This is often easily accomplished through an ongoing regimen of at-home oral care. Angle the toothbrush bristles toward the gum tissue and massage gently into the gums, introducing the toothpaste below the gumline.