Bad Breath Basics: What’s Causing It And How to Get Rid Of It

Written By Jennifer Raskin / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

If you notice you have bad breath, chances are someone else has noticed too. Known as halitosis, it happens to everyone sooner or later. That’s in large part thanks to the germs in your mouth.

Right after you eat, food gets trapped between your teeth and along the gums, the sweet spot for germs to do their thing. If you don’t brush your teeth right away, the germs will fester, and well, so too will your bad breath.

But it’s not just a matter of not brushing up on your oral hygiene. Certain foods that have a strong odor can turn even the healthiest of mouths into the stinkiest.

Garlic, onions, coffee, and alcohol are the biggest offenders mainly because they enter your blood stream after being absorbed by your body. Smoking works in the same way. So you more or less emit them from your lungs.

Dry mouth can lead to bad breath as can more serious illnesses like diabetes, acid reflux, or liver or kidney diseases. Dental diseases may also be the culprit if you have gingivitis or periodontal disease.

For all instances of bad breath that won’t go away even after brushing and flossing, it’s a good idea to find out what’s causing it so you can correct the root issue and get your mouth and the rest of your body in proper health.

How to Get Rid of Bad Breath

For most people, the solution to bad breath can be found below in these five steps.

1. Keep up good oral hygiene habits with brushing and flossing

Every day, you should brush your teeth a minimum of twice and floss at least once. This should be plenty to dislodge the food and germs that get caught in your teeth and along the gums.

2. Don’t forget your tongue

A crucial step for fresher breath is making sure you clean your tongue. It traps germs, food debris, and dead cells in the many crevices it has which can make an otherwise clean mouth dirty. You can use your toothbrush though a tongue scraper may be more effective for completely ridding your tongue of odor-causing elements.

3. Keep your hydration up

In addition to stinky foods, dry mouth is one of the most common causes of bad breath. If your mouth doesn’t have enough saliva, that leads to bad breath. It’s why you wake up with morning breath every day, though that can happen any time of day without enough water. Keep water with you all day long and remember to sip from it often.

4. Look out for certain foods

Yes, there are foods that will make your breath stink. But high protein and low-carb diets can also cause bad breath. When you don’t eat enough carbs in particular, it will have your body burning fat rather than sugar, leading to some super-smelly breath.

5. Schedule regular checkups with your dentist

Hey, you knew this would be on here! Your dentist is in your corner to help you fight bad breath. If you have been doing all the right things for your oral hygiene but your breath still stinks, your dentist can get to the bottom of things to help you have a healthy mouth.

All told, bad breath happens to everyone at some point. But if it’s a regular occurrence that won’t quit no matter how well you take care of your teeth, it’s time to dig deeper to eliminate the root cause and clear the air!

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels