How to Get Rid of Bad Breath

There are many ways to cover up bad breath, but if you're tired of quick fixes and want to get rid of halitosis once and for all, take these instructions to heart--or should we say mouth?

Steps

Clean your mouth thoroughly and regularly. Two major sources of mouth odor are bacteria and decaying food particles. There are hundreds of nooks and crannies in the landscape of your mouth where these offenders can get lodged. Brushing is not enough.
- Clean your tongue. Your tongue, unfortunately, is like a shaggy carpet where all kinds of smelly stuff can hide.[1] When you brush your teeth (which should be at least twice a day) use your toothbrush, the edge of a spoon, or a tongue cleaner to "scrape" your tongue.
  - If you have a sensitive gag reflex, you might not like this task. You need to clean your entire tongue, including the part close to your tonsils. Read How to Suppress the Gag Reflex for some tips.
- Floss. Make it as much of a mindless habit as brushing your teeth. At first, your gums might bleed as you dislodge chunks of food that have "stuck" to your teeth and gum for who knows how long. But take a second to smell the floss after you pass it through your teeth, if you dare. You'll see (or smell) where the bad breath is coming from.
Keep your mouth moisturized. A dry mouth is a stinky mouth. That's why your breath is worse in the morning; your mouth produces less saliva as you sleep. Saliva is the enemy of bad breath because not only does it physically wash bacteria and food particles away, but it also has antiseptic and enzymes that kill bacteria.[1]
- Chewing gum stimulates saliva production (in addition to covering up the odor with some kind of scent). Mints do not encourage saliva production.[1]
- Drink water. It won't necessarily increase saliva production, but it'll wash out your mouth and it's good for you. See How to Drink More Water Every Day.
- Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications and medical conditions. Ask your doctor about switching medications, or addressing the underlying condition.
Choose your gum carefully. As mentioned in the previous step, any gum will help with bad breath because the chewing action results in more saliva being produced. Some gums, however, have better bad-breath-fighting abilities than others:
- Cinnamon flavoring seems to be especially effective in reducing bacteria counts in your mouth.[1]
- Look for gum sweetened with xylitol. For one thing, sugar's not good for your mouth. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that actually works to prevent bacteria from replicating in the mouth.[1]
Eat a banana. You probably already know to avoid notorious stink foods like onions, garlic, cheese, and coffee (or at least brush vigorously after eating them). But did you know that if you're on a low-carb diet, you might have "ketone breath"?[1] Basically, as your body breaks down fats instead of carbs for energy, it creates ketones, some of which are released in your mouth. Unfortunately, ketones smell bad, and so will your breath. If you're on a strict carb-restricting diet, or any diet that forces you to burn fat instead of carbs, consider throwing healthy carb-rich snacks into the mix, like apples or bananas.
- This will also happen to anyone who fasts, whether for religious reasons, or because they are anorexic. If you are anorexic, bad breath is only one of the reasons to stop starving yourself. Read How to Cope if You Want to Become Anorexic.
Talk to a doctor. If you've followed the above steps diligently and the bad breath persists, you may have a medical issue that needs to be treated. Here are some of the potential culprits:
- Tonsil stones. These are lumps of calcified food, mucus and bacteria that appear as white spots on your tonsils. If seen, they can be mistaken for a throat infection, although sometimes they are not visible to the naked eye. You might also notice a metallic taste in your mouth, and/or pain when swallowing.[2]
- Diabetic ketoacidosis. If you have diabetes, it may be causing your body to burn fat instead of glucose, creating the ketone breath referred to in the previous step. This is a serious condition that needs to be treated as soon as possible.[3]
- Trimethylaminuria. If your body can't break down a chemical called trimethylamine, it will be released in your saliva, causing bad breath. It'll also be released in your sweat, so persistent body odor might be an accompanying symptom.[3]

Tips

Mouthwash is only a temporary fix. It masks the odor.[1]
Microbes are naturally everywhere. In some areas of the body, including the mouth, bacteria can be helpful.
When you brush your teeth, also brush your tongue. This is also a good way to prevent/cure bad breath.
Find more tips on getting rid of bad breath at Cure Bad Breath Naturally

Warnings

Do not stop prescription medication without consulting your doctor first.
Sometimes bad breath is caused by a medical condition, such as tonsillitis. See your doctor if you are concerned, or if it persists.
Beware of gum with xylitol if you have pets- it can be toxic to dogs.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

How to Fix Bad Breath on the Spot

You are sitting at the dinner table with your new boss or with a potential new client and suddenly you realize your breath has an odor. It might have been the garlic dip at lunch, or just from an upset stomach, but at this moment you know you can't get rid of bad breath for good - you just need to temporarily fix it right now. Here are some ideas for sweetening your breath, and maybe saving the deal!

Steps

Keep your mouth moist. Bad breath is often related to dry mouth.
- Drink water and ask for a bowl of lemon or lime to be included. Squeeze as much of the lemon/lime into the water as possible, as it will help cover up the odor.
- Chew some gum: Sugar-less gum will help to stimulate saliva production. This will help wash out some of the bacteria and food particles and to keep the mouth moist.
Rinse with hydrogen peroxide. Most households and some businesses have it for antiseptic use. If it hasn't been contaminated, it can be used as a quick mouthwash and is one of the best long-lasting bad breath cures.
Ask for a dish that comes accompanied by ginger, basil, mint leaves or parsley. Chew on any of these for instant refreshment. Excuse yourself and visit the bathroom to check for flecks of herb on your teeth.
Order a Waldorf salad and request additional apple. Apples freshen and remove any pieces of stuck food in your teeth that may be causing the stale breath.
Use salt (it'll be sitting on the table), if you can take it without raising suspicious glances. As an alternative, leave for the bathroom and ask the waiter to kindly bring you a little bit of salt for medicinal purposes. Gargle it to neutralize some of the odor. It is more effective if combined with baking soda.
Note that, if you like whiskey and it befits the occasion, having a glass can help get rid of the odor. Whiskey will help kill the germs on teeth causing smells and will mask the bad odor in small amounts. Don't overdo it though - besides creating a bad impression, breath worsens the more alcohol consumed.
Ask for strong, "black" coffee. That can cover odors rather well with its on own odor. But, cream and sugar can increase bacteria and odor.
Sneak a spoon into the bathroom. Check to make sure you're alone. Look into the mirror, stick out your tongue and check for a pasty white goo on it. Turn the spoon upside down and use it to scrape your tongue, using a back to front motion. Try to relax or you will gag. Rinse your mouth and the spoon and sneak it back to the table. Make sure you rinse the gunk off! This most likely indicates a thrush thrush cure infection.
Remember that, if you can't manage to sneak off with a spoon, you should head to the restroom, wash your hands, use your fingernails to scrape your tongue, then wash hands a second time to get rid of the foul-smelling goo. It might seem nasty, but if you wash your hands, it's not as bad as it seems.
Rinse your mouth with water. Then use dry paper towel to rub each of your teeth. You can also use the inside of your shirt. This will make your teeth super smooth, like you just brushed your teeth. Then rinse your mouth again. If you have the rough brown type of paper towel, you can rub it on your tongue outwards and get some plaque coating off. Just be sure that the towel and your shirt is clean, otherwise it might make your breath worse.

Tips

Don't lean in too closely towards your dinner partners. Keep a civil distance and smile a lot. If you feel the need to cough, sneeze or exhale deeply, use a tissue or handkerchief or quickly excuse yourself. Otherwise you risk allowing your mouth's odor to travel across the table.
Brush your teeth twice per day. It is most important to brush before going to bed as the bacteria that cause bad breath are most active while you sleep by multiplying. Flossing at bedtime is not optional. The bacteria in your mouth will use the food bits between your teeth to stink up your mouth and make cavities in your teeth! Also consider getting a tongue scraper and mouthwash (from the toothbrush aisle at the grocery store) for a truly fresh mouth.
Carry a small travel toothpaste and brush kit. You can use a flat, slip-over-the-finger toothbrush that goes nicely in a wallet or purse. These come small enough to fit in a purse or bag and will take care of the problem without risking sugary snacks or chemicals. You can find these in travel and camping stores.
Always carry a sachet of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) in your carry bag. This will allow you to discreetly visit the bathroom and rub it into your teeth, gums and over your tongue.
Other useful breath fresheners to have in your bag or pocket include mints, a candy cane during the holidays (bite off a slice and dissolve it on your tongue for kids), ginger candy, ginger cookies, Listerine Pocket strips, chewing gum (but not during dinner, only before arrival or you'll look unprofessional) and cinnamon chews.
You can use scent but be careful not to be overpowering - many people don't like heavy scents and this could be off-putting at a business dinner. It'll also be far worse if they get a whiff of the bad breath and the scent all rolled into one!
Brush your tongue as part of your daily dental care routine. You don't need a special tongue cleaner: a toothbrush and some toothpaste will do. A large percentage of people with bad breath apparently do not realize that food particles and bacteria lodge into lines and grooves of the tongue and stay there until the tongue is cleaned properly. When brushing your tongue, get as far back on the tongue as possible (yes, food gathers there, too) but don't jam the toothbrush so far back into your mouth that you induce vomiting: Few things will give worse breath than an instance of vomiting!
There are some lip glosses that taste like mint , you may apply and then discreetly lick your lips.

Warnings

If bad oral hygiene is the cause of bad breath rather than a bad choice at lunchtime, use the embarrassment of worrying about bad breath to motivate you to floss, brush and mouthwash properly from now on. It's easier than having to find a quick solution!
If bad breath is a frequent problem, consider how long it has been since your last trip to the dentist. Bad breath can be caused by periodontitis (gum disease).
Bad breath can also be caused by a candida (yeast infection), you may have a constant white furry tongue. Look at cutting down your intake of sugars and processed foods, as well as those containing yeast. - Search for Anti-Candida diet on a search engine for more info.
Also make sure you don't excuse yourself too much. They will think you're weird.
Drinking too much whiskey(or any alcoholic drink)can be a bad idea for obvious reasons. Although being drunk might get rid of your worrying about bad breath, be advised that most will notice strange behavior more than bad breath.

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Friday 18 March 2011