Bad Breath: Self Care Preventive Ways

Bad breath, also referred to as halitosis, is a periodic or persistent odor exhaled from the mouth. It is a common problem.

Although there are dozens of possible causes of bad breath, the most common is poor oral hygiene. Without proper brushing and flossing, food particles and plaque buildup on the teeth, gums and tongue, as well as on dentures or other orthodontic appliances. Bacteria begin to grow and produce bad mouth odors. Bleeding gums is a strong cause of bad breath.

Smoking is another leading cause of bad breath. Tar and nicotine residues coat the teeth, tongue and inside of the mouth and lungs, making breath especially smelly.

But, it can generally managed with self-care to prevent the embarrassing smell.

• The best way to fix a bad breath problem is to brush up on your oral hygiene. Ideally, brush your teeth after each meal and floss daily. See your dentist for an exam and cleaning twice a year.
  
• If your gums bleed when you floss or brush, you may have gum disease (gingivitis). If the condition doesn’t improve after 3 weeks of careful oral hygiene, see your dentist.
  
• Brush the top of your tongue with a soft toothbrush. The tongue, especially far in the back as it goes down your throat, can have bacteria that cause bad breath.
  
• If you smoke, stop now. It takes 2 weeks after you stop smoking before the smelly effects of tobacco are out of your system.
  
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dry mouth. Eat apples, citrus fruits, lettuce and other raw vegetables, which cleanse the teeth. Avoid strong-smelling foods, e.g. onions, garlic and cabbage, and hot and spicy foods.
  
• Parsley is a natural breath freshener. Mouthwashes, breath mints and sprays may mask the odor of bad breath temporarily, but they don’t get at the source of the problem. Avoid sugary breath mints which can make bad breath worse. (bacteria thrive on sugar and can cause dental cavities.)
  
• Clean dentures and removable braces every night as directed by your dentist.
  
• Use saliva substitutes for dry mouth caused by health conditions or medications.
  
• Don’t skip meals. Chewing foods promotes salivary flow and a detergent action that decreases mouth odor.

Simple Home Treatment for Sweaty Feet

Your feet contain about 250,000 sweat glands and are capable of producing 250 milliliters (one cup) of sweat a day. The smell comes from bacteria on the skin that breaks down the sweat, excreting offensive-smelling waste.

Luckily, there are some simple home treatments that can help:

• The basic, washing feet daily and drying them thoroughly.
  
• Use odor-absorbing insoles to control smelly shoes


• Choosing socks – cotton or a mix of cotton and synthetic – that contain moisture escape panels.

For more persistent problems:

• Soak your feet once a day in water containing drying agents such as vinegar or salt.
  
• Spray feet with rubbing alcohol every morning.
  
• Use absorbent powder or cornstarch, in shoes.

Excessive sweating can be a major cause of embarrassment.

If you have this problem, don’t suffer in silence. And don’t let embarrassment keep you from living life to the fullest!