Mumbai: Friends and colleagues usually notice the condition before the individual does. If you suffer from halitosis, or bad breath, here’s how you can control the problem - 

What causes it?

• Occasionally it’s caused by illness.
• Eating too much garlic, onions and spices causes temporary bad breath — often called ‘morning breath’.
• Persistent bad breath results from smoking, alcohol and poor oral hygiene.
• People with gum disease and dental decay are more likely to suffer. Bacteria at the back of the tongue is often to blame.
• Lack of physical exercise, too much stress and not drinking enough liquid during the day can also contribute to bad breath.

The hand test

If you’re worried you have bad breath, try licking the back of your hand and smelling it.

Can I stop it?

A dentist is the best person to see about bad breath but there are some things you can do to prevent it

• Eat fewer smelly, spicy and sugary foods for a while. Stop smoking, drink less alcohol and caffeine and more water (at least two litres) throughout the day.
• Have regular check-ups with the dentist.
• Brush after meals and floss at least once daily to remove rotting food debris from between the teeth, especially at the gumline.
• Use a mouthwash that is not alcohol-based.
• Gently clean the tongue surface twice daily with a tongue brush, tongue scraper, or tongue cleaner to reduce this primary source of odour.
• Brush a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface to inhibit bacterial action.

Treatments

Chewing sugar-free gum after meals helps to cleanse the mouth and is helpful if it’s not convenient or possible to clean the teeth. It can help with the production of saliva, which helps reduce bad breath. A mouth-freshener spray will temporarily mask the problem.

Home care

Rinses containing antibacterials such as chlorhexidine, zinc gluconate, or chlorine dioxide may provide better control. Avoid rinses with alcohol, since it is a drying agent and will worsen the problem. High-quality home breath tests and antibacterial rinses, spritzes, toothpastes, gums, mints and tongue gels tend to cost more, but do a much better job of controlling persistent breath problems.

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