How To Deal With Bad Breath

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Bad breath isn't the worst condition to have in the world, but it certainly doesn't make friends. From meetings in close quarters to chatting in the lift, it can really put people off - and that's before we get to the impact on your dating life.

Bad breath - or halitosis as it's called - is usually poorly received because one of the biggest reasons for it is poor oral hygiene. This translates to not brushing or cleaning your teeth regularly enough.

"Bacteria that build up on a person's teeth, tongue and gums can cause plaque (the soft, white deposit that forms on the teeth's surface), gum disease and tooth decay. The bacteria combine with saliva to break down food particles and proteins – this releases an unpleasant-smelling gas," says the NHS.

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Other reasons include not drinking enough water.

"Bacteria builds up when you have a dry mouth and the obvious way to combat this is to drink water regularly," writes Lifehacker.com. "If your mouth stays hydrated and is producing saliva regularly, you reduce the chances of bad breath."

Morning breath is common even if you don't suffer from halitosis. This occurs because 'saliva production nearly stops during sleep, which allows bacteria to grow, causing bad breath."

The NHS elaborated on a number of things that can exacerbate bad breath including drinking tea and coffee, taking certain medications such as nitrates, smoking and crash dieting.

But what if you're trying to figure out if you have bad breath in the first place? Don't use the cup-your-hands method, instead lick the back of your hand and smell it.

Alternatively - and good luck trying this one at the office - take a spoon, says Dr Harold Katz, bacteriologist and founder of the California Breath Clinic, scrape your tongue, let the contents of the spoon dry and then smell it.

So what are the solutions? Brush your teeth regularly, drink lots of water and keep an antiseptic mouthwash like Listerine at work so that if any bacteria is still in your teeth, it will take care of it.

Dietitian Moloo, says MSN Healthy Living, says while you can avoid foods, some foods can aid nice-smelling breath. "“Two cups of tea a day can prevent bad breath for some. The polyphenols, a plant chemical in tea, may prevent growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath.” You can also chew parsley, which seems to curb offending smells from other foods and bacteria. And cranberries may eliminate offensive smells and make the bacteria less sticky, which makes plaque less likely to form."

6 Surprising Causes Bad Breath (and One Cure)

Your Stuffy Nose(01 of07)

Pass the tissues -- and some gum, please. When a cold prevents you from breathing through your nose, you're forced to inhale and exhale through your mouth. This dries out the tissues and reduces the flow of saliva -- the mouths built-in cleanser, which not only rinses away food particles but also neutralizes decay-causing acids and acts as a natural antiseptic to keep bacteria in check. The less saliva, the more bacteria -- and the more potent the odor. An easy remedy (for your breath, if not your cold): Chewing gum -- as long as it's sugarless -- has been shown to increase the flow of saliva. (credit:Shutterstock)

Your Movie Treats(02 of07)

Bacteria have a sweet tooth, too. When you eat sticky candy like gummy bears, cherry vines and even mint chews, the bacteria "has a party," says Kimberly Harms, DDS, the consumer adviser for the American Dental Association. It feasts on the sugar and spreads to all areas of your mouth -- including hard-to-reach areas in the grooves of the teeth. But here's a surprise: Dentists have started recommending chocolate as a more healthful alternative to candy. Harms says that chocolate not only dissolves relatively quickly but also has less sugar than other candy, as well as a small amount of calcium to protect enamel. (credit:Shutterstock)

Your Mouthwash?(03 of07)

Yep. Many brands of mouthwash and antibacterial mouth rinse contain alcohol -- sometimes accounting for as much as 27 percent of total ingredients -- that dries out your mouth, leaving a stale smell after the minty freshness wears off in an hour or so. Look for brands with no or little alcohol and save them for first dates or job interviews (or when recommended by a doctor). (credit:Getty Images)

Your Super-Low-Carb Lifestyle (04 of07)

After a rice-free sashimi dinner or an all-you-can-eat Brazilian barbecue, your body is tasked with metabolizing a high amount of protein. This produces a by-product of ammonia, which, among other places in the body, is released in your breath (fortunately, your dining companions will suffer the same condition). Eating this way on a regular basis -- by following a high-protein diet, for example -- requires your body to constantly excrete these by-products, as well as molecules called ketones, which can cause your breath to smell in a way thats described as rotten fruit -- or just rotten. (credit:Shutterstock)

Your Gram Negatives(05 of07)

Of all the different types of bacteria that live in your mouth, the most pungent, by far, are a kind called "gram-negative." Not only do they produce gassy-smelling sulfuric compounds, but they also have an extra cell layer that makes them especially resilient. They burrow down below the gum line and hide out in the crevices of the tongue. Flossing helps remove them, but another option is brushing your tongue, which has been shown to reduce bad breath by 70 percent. Clean your entire tongue, especially the back where more there are more peaks (or papillae) and valleys, as well as the cheeks, recommends Gary H. Westerman, DDS, a professor of dentistry at Creighton University. You can also use a toothbrush or a drugstore tongue-brush, but an Orabrush -- yes, the thing you've seen on YouTube -- has longer, softer bristles as well as a scraper to collect the bacteria once it's been dislodged. (credit:Getty Images)

Your Anxiety(06 of07)

Your heart is pounding, your palms are sweating, you're practically panting with stress -- and your mouth is probably not smelling that great (argh, dry mouth again!). In addition to taking a few calming inhalations, remember to take several rehydrating, breath-freshening sips of water. (credit:Getty Images)

Your Salmon with Aioli Sauce -- but Without a Glass of... (07 of07)

Finally, a cure for garlic breath that doesn't involve forcing your partner to eat the offender with you. Drinking milk can lower the concentration of odor-emitting compounds from garlic in the mouth (and nose), Ohio State University researchers recently discovered. Whole milk seemed to be slightly more effective than skim (due to the absorbent fat) and had the most noticeable results when it was consumed during a meal (although drinking a glass afterward can help, too). (credit:Getty Images)

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