What can I do about bad breath?
I was really bad in oral hygiene for a couple years, as in I would only brush in the mornings and would do it as quickly as I could, so eventually that caught up with me, I started having bad breath, starting having an irritating feeling in my mouth, and even pus afterwards and during I brushed. So I completely changed my oral hygiene, I literally brush 5-6 times(in a row) in the mornings and at nights, I also floss at least once a day, as well as use a homemade mouth rinse that is made of salt and baking soda….the thing is I have gone to 2 dentists, they did a regular checkup, took x-rays, and did the little mirror and pointy thing, and they said my teeth were fine, I told them my problems and they basically told me that I’m crazy…and I know I am not because you can tell when people think your breath is offensive and I’ve had people tell me that not to mention I always have a bad taste in my mouth…and it has destroyed my social life and crippled my confidence. What should I do?
Also like to add that my teeth are far from perfectly white. So I don’t have a smile I can be proud of either.
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16 comments
sixnutfury on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
since your teeth are fine ,it could be a stomach problem. go to a doctor and get checked out.
mikeandike16 on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
well there is a remedy that my dad uses he eats tons of stawberrys they turn your tongue a healthy red and cure bad breath so it will give u better breath and it will hopefully get rid of that bad taste in your mouth plus stawberry are rich in antioxidants
mae on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
hmmm… gargle first with Bactidol (pure and not mixed with water). then, brush your teeth. then have a good rinse of water. Don’t brush too many times in a day. That will also kill the good bacteria in the mouth.
Then, for the rest of the day, choose the ideal foods. Less sweets (as sweets promote the growth of bacteria which is the etiologic agent of bad breath). Salty food and sour food are ok.
Avoid also chewing gums and smoking.
Patricia S on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
This is a great website, run by the ADA:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/bad_breath.asp
It should help with your problem… Good luck!
Lynn on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
Chewing gum will help. It gets the saliva flowing to keep your mouth from being dry.
donnie b on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
.
spotty on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
they say bad breath is dur to somethin wrong wth the stomach…not sure tho.
dnt brush ur teeth too muc thats not veru=y good too the gums may bleed.
use a mouthwash twice a day after brushing…use aquafresh its verry good trust me
avoid eatin foods that give bad breath like onions garlic etcc
eat fruits…
chew gum…again extra is a good one n choose the mint flavour
also eatin cardamom is very goooooood …as in juss the seeds…its good for bad breathe..
u may also use any mouth spray if u need urgently…like when u are going to a meeting n u knoiw u may have to talk…this is better than brushin everytime..n u can keep it in ur pocket…
hope i helped :)
Firefox Oli on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
Three times a day or at least two, clean your tounge, floss your teeth, use a expansive tooth paste to brush your teeth and brush it thoroughly for two minutes, then use Listerine mouthwash and rinse for 45 seconds and your breath will not smell bad for the next 10 hours guaranteed.
coffee4me on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
Okay, here are all the suggestions I know.
1. check your tonsils. Do you have large tonsils that harbor bacteria and occasionally drop and mucousy, disklike thing onto your tongue? This is called a tonsillar excretion (I think). If so, go see an ear nose and throat Dr.
2. Use a Neti pot to clean your sinuses.
3. Use a tongue scraper to clean the top of your tongue–works way better than a toothbrush. Need proof? Brush your tongue and then use the scraper (I think the breathRx scraper is the best) after…
4. make sure you are flossing correctly
Go to the ADHA website.
5. Are you taking any medications that cause drymouth? if So, that may be your problem. Then start using Biotene(your pharmacist can point you there) products, chewing xylitol containing sugar-free gum and mints, drinking plenty of water and avoiding all sugar as much as possible. (Sugar feeds the bacteria in your mouth)
6. Brush 2-4 times a day for 2-3 minutes each time, preferably with an electric toothbrush so you know you are being thorough and gentle and floss 1-2 times a day. I prefer woven floss.
BTW it is usually the people who are paranoid of their breath who don’t stink, but these things should help. Otherwise talk to your doctor, but only if your breath really stinks.
Also, if you are staring intensely into someone’s face to determine if your breath stinks, you may be scaring them and interpreting that as your bad breath…just a thought. Just do the above and relax a little. :)
Good Luck!
itzxeugene on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
bad breath usually results from dryness in your mouth. keep drinking fluids or constantly eat sugar-free mints.
ms. dew on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
If you are perfectly sure of your dental hygiene, then perhaps you should start paying attention to your health. There are other causes of bad breath other than the mouth. And sometimes bad breath is a symptom of other health problems. Ask your doctor about it.
cheryl a on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
bad breath does not have to stem from your mouth, it can also indicate gastrointestinal problems, see a gastroenterologist soon
tolleygirl13 on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
Sometimes Bad Breath Can Mean You Have A Cavity. You Need To Have It Checked Out ASAP
Pam on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
You mentioned that the dentist said your teeth are fine but what did the dentist say about your gums? Did they do measurements to see how your gum heath was? If not, then you need to have that done to see if you have gum disease. If you don’t have gum disease, and are still experiencing bad breath, it can come from several different sources….1. allergies and post-nasal drip which I would recommend a saline wash. I use one myself. You can buy it at your drugstore. 2. your tonsils-sometimes people have cavities called crypts that harbor white smelly deposits called "crypt stones" that can cause bad breath. or 3. bacteria on the tongue which I would recommend a chlorine dioxide mouthrinse like Closys or Oxyfresh. Also brush your tongue with your toothbrush to help remove the film.
missy m on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
Diet can be part of it! If you have digested prob, it will make breath smell. Try cutting out smoking if you, and eat lots of fresh veggies and drink lots of water, and continue to keep up good work with brushing. Thank you very much! I will folllow your advice in brushing!
PS—-stop eating junkie food.
meemah70 on September 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
There are many reasons that your could be having bad breath. Not all of them are dentally related but are caused by medical conditions.
The first thing to do is have another dental exam to make sure that your gums are healthy. Gingivitis and periodontitis can cause bad breath.
If you have no dental issues, you could then talk to the dentist about your cosmetic concerns (bleaching etc)
Medical conditions can also be the cause of bad breath. If you are taking any medications that have a side effect of dry mouth, this is a MAJOR cause of dragon breath! Dry mouth is a perfect situation for certain bacteria to flourish and these bacteria give off a sulfa odor… BAD BREATH BIG TIME! To correct dry mouth there are several things to do. First and foremost, drink water all day long. Keep yourself hydrated. Secondly, there are over the counter products that are on the market to counter dry mouth. Biotene is one products available in mouthwash, oral lubricating gel and gum.
Sinus conditions can also be the cause of bad breath and more severely, Diabetes and hypoglycemia can also be the cause.
So it is important that you see your physician and discuss all your concerns with him/her as well.
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