Do You Suffer from Halitosis? Find Out With These 3 Easy Bad Breath Self-Tests

Many people are suffering from bad breath right now and most of them don't even know it. How can this be? Unfortunately, most people who are suffering from bad breath don?t have a clue that they have halitosis. The fact is that halitosis is one of those conditions that can be hard to spot, because it can be very difficult to tell if you have bad breath. However, if you do have bad breath, it is something you would definitely want to be aware of. Not only is bad breath potentially a very embarrassing problem, it can also be indicative of more serious health ailments, including kidney or renal failure, gall bladder problems, and other serious underlying health issues. So put aside your embarrassment and get ready to find out whether you have a serious problem with bad breath. Here are some ideas on conducting bad breath self examinations.

Why Aren't Most People Able to Detect Their Own Bad Breath?

Why does it seem nearly impossible to detect one's own bad breath? Good question. The truth is that if we could smell our own breath the way others can, it would be a lot easier to detect and treat cases of halitosis. The fact that we cannot smell our own breath is due to a phenomenon known as adaptation. Adaptation causes our olfactory nerves to become used, or adapted to, our sense of smell. So how can you tell if you have bad breath or not? Well, you can always seek out cues from your every day interactions, but this can be a little painful on the ego. If people tend to back away from you when you talk to them, or all perpetually offering you their breath mints, then you might know that there's a problem. However, did you know that your dental professional can let you know whether you have halitosis using a little machine known as a halimeter? A halimeter can measure the bad breath gases usually measured as the amount of volatile sulfur compounds in your mouth in your mouth at any given time. However, if you would like to avoid the embarrassment of the halimeter, here are some tests that you can do on your own.

Self Test #1: The Floss Test

You can use a simple string of unflavored and unwaxed dental floss to detect your own breath odor. Use a piece of dental floss to floss your lower and upper back molars. Once you are done flossing, examine the string of dental floss for color. If it is red or brown, your gums are bleeding, which is a sign that you need to floss more often. Wait a minute and then smell the piece of wax. Does it have a noticeably bad odor? If so, then you may be suffering from halitosis.

Self Test #2: The Washcloth Test

For this test, simply take a clean white washcloth and rub it against your tongue. Make sure to rub from as far back as you can. Wait about a minute before smelling the washcloth. If it has a bad odor, then you probably suffer from bad breath.

Self Test #3: The Wrist Test

This is an easy enough test, although it may not be as reliable as the previous self-tests. To complete this test, simply lick your own clean wrist. Wait a few seconds and smell.