BAD BREATH: A Major Turn Off

Who doesn’t want clean, sweet-smelling breath? Certainly not your lover. Now’s the time to make sure that your oral hygiene is up to par so that you are, to coin a phrase, “kissing sweet!”

Bad breath can be caused in many ways. I’ll tell you about each way separately, but you may have more than one problem area to clear up.

TEETH – Most bad breath comes from food stuck between the teeth. Brushing alone won’t remove this odor-causing condition. You must FLOSS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, and preferably after every meal. Also make sure to floss before you go to bed. Then brush, and don’t eat anything else until breakfast.

Do you go to the dentist for a cleaning once, or twice, a year? If you haven’t recently seen a dental hygienist for a thorough cleaning, make an appointment right away. Not only will a good cleaning make your breath sweeter, it will save your teeth and keep them sparkling clean.

TONGUE – Believe it or not, the back of the tongue holds bacteria that cause bad breath.

You don’t have to buy a tongue cleaner (unless you want to). All you have to do is take a spoon upside down and scrape it down your tongue from back to front. When you look at the spoon, you’ll see how much “goop” was stuck on your tongue.

INDIGESTION – The last possible cause is poor digestion. When that happens the smell is coming from inside your body. Eating non-diet yogurt often helps digestion, and taking a good probiotic helps as well.

Then there’s mouthwash. I never use “regular “ brands like Lavoris or Scope. They usually contain alcohol and artificial color. It’s better to choose a natural brand, and check the label to make sure that it doesn’t contain alcohol, artificial ingredients, or artificial colors. TOMS is one the companies that makes a good mouthwash. Check out others in your Health Food store, and choose one in a flavor you like.

What about mints and gum? Well, though they don’t really take away bad breath, they at least cover it up for a while. The only really effective way to stop bad breath after eating garlic or onions, etc. is to take something internally. A good product is called, BREATHASSURE. Swallow a couple and rest assured that you won’t make anyone around you pass out!

Here’s to a sweet-smelling and a clean-feeling mouth!