What Is Causing Your Bad Breath? Everyday Habits That Create Halitosis

Everyone knows that eating garlic and onions are not the best ways to get fresh breath. But did you know that there are plenty of other habits—things you do and foods that you eat each and every day—that can also be contributing to your bad breath problems. Avoid the bad breath blues by avoiding these secret culprits.

Little Known Culprits That Are Only Making Your Breath Worse

There are several little known culprits that are only making your breath worse. Maybe you brush your teeth two times a day with a good toothbrush and the most expensive toothpaste available. But do you floss each and every day? Flossing, in some ways, is even more important than brushing your teeth. Why is this so? When you brush your tooth, no matter how good and what kind of special angle your toothbrush had, you will find that you will only be able to get rid of surface plaque and debris. But when you floss, you are capable of removing a lot more food debris and particles from beneath the gum line and in between teeth. If you are not a regular flosser, try it for at least one full week and be prepared to feel (and smell) the difference.

Put Away That Coffee Mug If You Want Fresh Clean Breath

This may be a horrifying thought to coffee nuts everywhere, but if you truly want to freshen your breath, you will want to make a serious dent on your coffee habit. Why is this? Studies have shown that regular consumption of acidic food and drinks (such as coffee) can contribute to bad breath. Bacteria loves acidic drinks, and coffee is definitely on the right side of the acidity scale. This doesn't mean that you have to give up coffee for good, but you should definitely cut down if you want to give your mouth a helping hand. Beside causing bad breath, coffee also stains your teeth.

Alcohol Is Another Secret Bad Breath Culprit

Some people have failed to make the connection between alcohol and bad breath, but others know that the connection is alive and well. It is ironic, then, that one of the main ingredients in most commercial mouthwashes is alcohol. Alcohol tends to dry your mouth out, which is not a good thing for bad breath. Bad breath is connected to dry mouth, and alcohol is well known for its drying properties.

Sugary Foods and Drinks Another No-No

Bacteria loves sugar; it positively eats it up. Sad but true. So what can you do if you are a sugar addict? Well, most doctors recommend that you cut down gradually on your sugar intake. Cutting down on your sugar intake is good for your whole body, not just your breath. But understand that sugary mints will not necessarily provide an effective guard against bad breath.

Avoid SLS – Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Did you know that your toothpaste could be doing you more harm than good? It's true. Some studies have made a connection between SLS and drying of the mouth. As we know, drying of the mouth is not good if you want clean and fresh breath.