Oct 28, 2009 6:55 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Bad Breath Remedies
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
For many people, bad breath is a chronic problem, but it likely has an easy solution. Just a few simple tips can help keep your breath smelling fresh.
Nicole McGovern was, like an estimated 90 million other people, struggling with bad breath. "You know, you feel a little uncomfortable and insecure," she said. "You always try to hide it of course."
Cosmetic dentist Elisa Mello said the problem was usually caused by not having enough saliva and microorganisms you can't see.
"We all have bacteria in our mouth. The problem is that when one bacteria or a few of different strains become more dominant, they can cause decay in you mouth," she said.
A good dental cleaning is the first step, but there are also some easy tricks to keep your breath fresh.
First, chew gum. "When you chew gum or even when you eat, it stimulates salivary production so saliva starts the break down of bacteria," Mello said.
Look for gum that contains the ingredient xylitol. The sugar substitute prevents bacterial growth.
The toothbrush isn't just for your teeth. Taking care of your tongue will battle bacteria and foul-smelling breath. "The tongue is like a shaggy carpet. It has like a coating on it, so bacteria and food particles always get trapped in it," Mello said.
Drink water. Having enough saliva isn't possible when you're dehydrated.
By the time we feel thirsty, we're already 10 percent dehydrated, so keep water with you at all times for the health benefits, including preventing bad breath.
Don't forget that yearly physical. Medical problems can wreak havoc with your breath.
"The top things that we find are diabetes, sinus infection, sore throats such as strep throat," Mello said.
Finally, after brushing and flossing add a water pick to your daily regimen. "It really flushes everything out. You can get to little corners you normally couldn't," Mello said.
Try to avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol as a main ingredient. It may make you feel fresh for a few minutes, but the alcohol will dry out your mouth which ultimately will make the problem worse. Instead, look for rinses that have chlorine dioxide. They still kill bacteria but are not as drying.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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