Though it may wound your pride, it may actually be doing you a favour if someone announces bluntly ; ‘ Yuck – you have bad breath’ .

Strangely enough , people who have bad breath (halitosis ) are usually the last to know. Bad breath carries a real social stigma.

The good news is you don’t have to put up with it any more. There are ways to control it to make a tremendous difference in your life.

Bad Breath may be cause by the following:

1. Certain Foods.
2. Poor Oral Health Care.
3. Improper Cleaning of Dentures.
4. Gum Disease.
5. Dry Mouth.
6. Tobacco Products.
7. Medical Conditions.

There are other less-common causes, however. Dieting can contribute to bad breath , as can postnatal drip.

In more serious cases, bad breath may be a symptom of health problems, including respiratory infection, infection of the nose, windpipe, lungs, chronic bronchitis, gastro- esophageal reflux, uncontrolled diabetes or liver or kidney failure that require medical attention.

Treatment:

A bit of Self-help, including a dedicated regimen of tooth and tongue brushing will usually check bacterial growth in the mouth.

General method of defense is as follows:

1. Sip at least 8 glasses of water daily. That’ll keep your  mouth moist, which is important because saliva helps wash away the food debris on which the bacteria thrive.
2. Cut back on coffee and alcohol, which dry your mouth, and fatty foods and dairy products, which can change the acidity in your mouth so that it favors an overgrowth of bacteria.    
3. Snack on Carrots, Celery or other vegetables to keep plaque from forming.
4. Dentures, removable appliances such as retainers, mouth –guard should be cleaned thoroughly before being placed in the mouth.
5. Use toothbrushes with indicators so that you will know when to replace them with new ones.
6. Avoid Stress.    
7. Avoid too spicy, sticky food and tobacco.
8. Drugs can sometimes contribute to nasty breath by inhibiting saliva flow and drying out your mouth.

Offenders include some antidepressants, antihistamines ad decongestants, diuretics, high blood pressure medications and pain relievers. Ask your doctor if you can switch to another drug that isn’t drying. Regular check-ups is a must to correct problem areas; gum disease, carious teeth, overhanging fillings, leaking crowns, all of which cause food traps.