Everyone has had a case of bad breath at least once in his or her life.
It can be as simple as waking up with morning breath or a more serious bout with halitosis.
Although there are many ways you can get bad breath, finding an effective treatment can be more of a challenge.
Determining the root cause of the condition is one step to finding a way to treat it.
Most people associate having bad breath with the last thing that the person ate.
Certain foods like garlic and onions are known to emit a foul smell especially when food particles get stuck inside your mouth.
The effects are temporary in most cases.
Poor oral hygiene or an underlying disease can also be the culprit.
Another possible cause is if you produce little saliva in your mouth.
Saliva functions as the body's natural form of mouthwash.
It helps cleanse the mouth of bacteria.
However, if you have dry mouth syndrome, this ability is impaired.
This inhibits the body's ability to cleanse the areas inside your mouth.
The condition is aggravated even further if you drink lots of alcohol or certain medications.
Treatments for this condition vary from the simplest and cheapest to the most expensive and time consuming.
One of the simplest ways is to brush your teeth thoroughly after every meal.
This removes any food particles that are lodged in between your teeth.
Also remember to brush your tongue as the tiny hairs are great breeding grounds for bacteria.
Encourage the production of saliva by chewing sugarless gum.
The natural production of saliva helps cleanse your mouth of bacteria.
This also helps loosen up any food particles that are lodged in crevices.
You can also chew on raw vegetables such as carrots to prevent the buildup of plaque on your teeth.
Avoid using mouthwashes that contain alcohol as these can make your mouth dry even further.
Instead, drink lots of water.
You can also try gargling with water for at least 20 seconds to help dislodge and remove some of the food particles and bacteria inside your mouth.
If you are on a date, avoid drinking any liquids containing alcohol or caffeine as these can make your mouth dry and promote bad breath.
If all else fails, consult your dentist or a dental hygienist.
A dentist can better identify the root cause for your bad breath and recommend a course of treatment.
Going for regular checkups with your dentist ensures that all is well inside your mouth.