Have you experienced any of the following?

1. Your bad breath is interfering with your social or professional success.
2. You frequently have a bad taste in your mouth.
3. People step back from you when you are talking to them, or they avoid direct contact with you.
4. Somebody has commented on your bad breath, or offered you mints or chewing gum.
5. You experience a white or yellow film on your tongue.

If you answered yes to any of the above you likely have a chronic bad breath problem

Bad breath, sometimes called halitosis, is an unpleasant odor of the breath.

Causes

1. There are a number of different causes of bad breath, but poor dental hygiene is the most common.
2. Strongly flavoured foods such as garlic, onion and spices produce a smell
3. Strong smelling drinks, including alcohol and coffee, can also cause bad breath.
4. Dry mouth (xerostomia)
5. Infections of the throat nose and lungs
6. Sinusitis
7. Bronchitis
8. Diabetes
9. Liver or kidney problems
10. Gastritis and food reflux
11. Smoking
12. Low carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins diet.

Diagnosis

The easiest way to determine if one has bad breath is to ask someone who is trustworthy and discrete. This is usually not too difficult.Another,more private, method of determining if one has bad breath is to lick one?s wrist, wait until it dries, then smell the area. Scraping the rear area of the tongue with a plastic spoon, then smelling the spoon is another method one can use to assess bad breath.

Treatment

The simplest and most effective treatment is usually to improve your dental hygiene. Your dentist is likely to recommend that you brush your teeth and gums with fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Use dental floss to clean between your teeth and remove any trapped food that could cause tooth decay. Your dentist may also suggest daily rinsing with an anti-bacterial or anti-odour mouthwash before sleeping.

Preventive measures

1. Try cutting down on strongly flavored or spicy food. Reducing your alcohol intake and stop smoking.
2. Use a tongue cleaner and clean right to the back of the tongue.
3. Drink plenty of fluids, clean your mouth after eating milk products, fish and meat.
4. Chew sugar- free gum after eating and if your mouth feels dry.
5. Avoid sugary snacks between meals, which increase bacteria in the mouth.
6. Visit your dentist regularly and have your teeth professionally cleaned as required.