How to combat bad breath?

Bad breath or Halitosis can be a source of embarrassment for many people. If you have bad breath then combat is the only solution. Bad breath is caused due to reasons like poor dental hygiene, poor food habits with intake of spicy food, consumption of alcohol and tobacco and even health problems. Floss your teeth regularly, preferably after every meal to remove bacteria that causes bad breath. Use a tongue scrapper to clear your tongue. A change in your diet habits will work wonders. Stay away from garlic and onions. Drinking lots of water is great for combating bad breath. Chewing gum is not an effective way to combat bad breath so it’s best to avoid it. If you have health related problems that cause bad breath seek a doctor’s help immediately.

Some tips which can help you to combat bad breath are as follows-
* A clean mouth is less likely to smell. Brush twice a day, thoroughly, and floss daily. Flossing is particularly important, since food can get trapped between teeth and at the gum line. Decaying food is a great haven or bacteria, which release smelly gases that will make your breath smell bad.
* The tongue is another big source of mouth odor. At the back of your tongue, bacteria can live for a long time without being seriously disturbed. To eliminate this source of bad breath, scrape your tongue gently with a scraper or other device designed for this purpose. Usually, you will need to do this twice a day. Be sure not to press too hard and injure your tongue, and avoid toothbrushes, because they can make you gag.
* Dry mouths can be a big cause of bad breath. Keeping hydrated will allow your body to produce enough saliva to keep your mouth cleaner. When your breath smells bad in the morning, it's because saliva is reduced while you're sleeping. Drink at least a few glasses of fresh water every day. You may also wish to avoid alcohol based mouthwashes.
* Rinse your mouth after every meal with water. Swishing some water around can help you remove food particles and keep your mouth hydrated.
* Chewing can help you cure bad breath. Whether you choose sugarless gum, fennel seeds, or fresh parsley, the action of chewing gets saliva going and provides a pleasant scent that can help to cover up bad smells.
* Avoid foods that you have noticed to cause your breath to get worse, and aim for ones that clean your mouth and the back of your tongue of plaque. Celery, carrots and other abrasive foods can act as good mouth cleaners and help you avoid halitosis.
* Gargle at night with either an effective, non alcohol based mouthwash, or a 1.5% dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to wait a little while after brushing, as the detergents in toothpaste can prevent these gargles from working as well as they should.