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What causes bad breath?

Before we figure out which solution, it is vitally important to diagnose the cause. Bad breath is also known by its scientific name halitosis. It generally means that the air that is coming from your mouth does not smell good another term is mouth odor. We say mouth odor because though the odor comes from the mouth, though the actual odor can originate from any number of sources such as the stomach, a decaying tooth, the tongue or even a dental prosthesis like a retainer or denture.

For the most part, based on scientific studies bad breath is typically caused by the odor-causing bacteria that is present in your mouth, more specifically the back surface of your tongue. The bacteria living in your mouth can be classified into two types: the good bacteria and the bad bacteria. The truth is, both the good and bad bacteria stink. So simply finding the magic bullet that eliminates all bacteria is not a practical solution since we need to keep the good bacteria alive.

Where the Smelly Bacteria Live

In real estate, it is all about location, location, location. It is the same with smelly germs. Most people know how to clean their tongue, but most of them do not know where to clean. The problem most people have is that when they brush their teeth they do not clean the most important area, which is the back of their tongue. That is where most of these odor-causing bacteria live, in between the tongue's little fibers or folds, also known as papillae. Most people clean the front of the tongue due to convenience and accessibility. Though the back parts of your tongue are very difficult to clean due to its location, it is required to eliminate bad breath.

Dealing with the Smelly Issue: The Best Tool to Eliminate the Bacteria

A very quick and easy technique in dealing with bad breath is to eliminate the odor-causing bacteria in your mouth by using a tongue scraper, not your toothbrush. Using a toothbrush to remove the hard-to-reach folds is like using in indoor broom to clean off loose soil in tall, thick grass. The ideal tongue scraper/cleaner is made of medical grade stainless steel, one-handed, rounded end, and rigid enough to apply downward force on the tongue, thereby eliminating the causes of bad breath.

When to Scrape your Tongue

The simple answer to this question is how often do you want your breath to smell good. A good rule of thumb is to scrape your tongue whenever you brush and floss your teeth - 2-3 times per day. Just like plaque accumulates on your teeth soon after you eat, so does the debris on your tongue. If you get into the habit of scraping your tongue a few times a day, you will notice a significant decrease in bad breath

Of course, each individual has different sources of bad breath so please buy and use a tongue scraper and check with your dental professional for their recommendations.

About The Author:

Marvin Pantangco, DDS, the Internet Dental Expert, invites you to visit the high-traffic website http://www.SmileIQ.com and learn all you need to know about your smile. Also visit http://www.bad-breath-info.net for more information on bad breath solutions. Sign up for our Free Newsletter where you will receive valuable tips on keeping your smile healthy and naturally beautiful. If you have more specific questions about your smile, preview Dr. Marvin’s blog at http://www.askDrMarvin.com

Copyright 2007 Marvin Pantangco, DDS. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, give author name credit and follow all of the EzineArticles terms of service for Publishers. 

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