~HEALTH Tip MAKE SURE YOUR BREATH IS 'KISSING SWEET~

[SUPREMEBEEYATCH]

MAKE SURE YOUR BREATH IS 'KISSING SWEET'

Halitosis or bad breath is the dreaded disease that can kill a relationship. It also can indicate a physical problem such as respiratory tract or gastrointestinal disorders but medical causes of bad breath are rare.

The sale of products advertising "kissing sweet" breath is a multimillion dollar industry in this country. And for good reason. No one wants bad breath.

The truth is that these products such as mouth wash, gum, sprays and mints are generally only temporary. More effective ways to curb bad breath is simply rinsing your mouth out with water after you eat if a toothbrush is unavailable. Doing both is better. Add flossing and you fight the dreaded dinosaur breath even more.

The biggest cause of bad breath is sleeping. Saliva does not flow while we sleep. It tends to stagnate and pool with food particles in the mouth. Almost nobody wakes up with sweet breath. What's the first thing we usually do when we awake? Brush our teeth because the taste in our mouth is unpleasant.

Daytime causes of temporary bad breath are mostly caused by foods we eat such as raw onions, garlic, cigarettes and alcohol. These can be temporarily masked with mouthwashes and mints. Persistent bad breath can be a signal that something is amiss. Periodontal disease is a major cause of chronic bad breath.

To keep "kissing sweet" breath, brush and floss after each meal and see your dentist regularly. If halitosis persists, run, don't walk to your nearest dentist and/or doctor.