How to Recognize Signs of Bad Breath

Cover your mouth and nose with both hands. Place your hand over your nose and mouth so that the breath coming out of your mouth can’t go anywhere other than your nose. Breathe out slowly from your mouth and quickly breathe in through your nose. If your breath smells bad, you should be able to tell – but air can quickly escape through your fingers, and it can be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis with this method. ^[3] However, this is one of the most discreet ways to test your breath in public.

Breathe into a cup or plastic container. Take a deep breath, and then place the cup over your nose and mouth as tight as possible so you can get the most accurate results. Exhale slowly through your mouth, filling the cup with your hot breath. Quickly inhale through your nose – you should be able to easily smell your breath.

• This measure will probably be more accurate than placing your hand over your nose and mouth, but its accuracy depends on how airtight the trophy is.
• You can also use this method with any type of receptacle that can hold breaths coming from both your nose and mouth: a small paper or plastic bag, a tight-fitting surgical mask, or any other type of mask. any kind of respirator.
• You should wash the cup before you breathe into it again. Wash the cup with soap and water before storing it or using it for any other purpose.

Identify correctly. Avoid using these methods right after you’ve brushed your teeth, rinsed your mouth with mouthwash, or eaten a mint-flavored food. They may freshen your breath, but the smell of your breath after you’ve just brushed your teeth won’t be the same scent you’ve got most of the time. You should try to test your breath at different times of the day – right after brushing your teeth, and in the middle of the day, when you normally meet other people – to better tell the difference. Remember that your breath can also smell bad after you eat spicy foods. l

You can consult a friend or relative you trust to see if you have bad breath. You can test it yourself, but you will only be able to get results that are close to what other people smell from your breath. The best way to know for sure is to get rid of your pride and ask the question, “Please answer honestly. Does my breath smell?”. ^[4]

• You should only choose someone you trust – someone who will keep your secrets private, and who will be completely honest with you about the matter. You can consult a friend who will not judge you. Avoid asking your crush or lover, as severe bad breath can be a pretty big “minus”. Don’t ask questions to strangers, unless you’re really brave enough.
• You may be embarrassed at first, but you will be relieved to receive a trustworthy opinion on the matter. It’s better to get a response from a close friend than from someone you want to kiss.

Be a little thoughtful. Don’t blow someone’s face and ask, “Is my breath bad?”. You should be tactful when discussing this topic, and always remember to ask before you act. If you spend a lot of time with someone, they may have noticed that you have bad breath; but maybe it’s because they’re too polite to talk about it.

• You might say, “I’m worried I have bad breath, but I can’t be sure. I know this is embarrassing, but can you smell anything?”.
• Or “This sounds pretty weird but I want to know if my breath is really bad? I’m taking Chau to the movies tonight and I’d rather face this problem now than wait. until she finds out.”

Determine if you only have bad breath in the morning when you wake up or if you have chronic bad breath. Check your breath in the morning, noon, and evening, before and after brushing, and monitor how persistent the problem is. If you know the reason why you have bad breath, you can take steps to treat it.

• It’s normal to have bad breath in the morning when you wake up. You can eliminate this problem by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash after waking up.
• Chronic bad breath is a more serious bacterial infection, but it’s still a common problem and is completely treatable. To deal with bad breath, you need to maintain good oral hygiene and control the bacteria that make your breath smell bad.
• The most common causes of bad breath are tooth decay, gum disease, poor oral hygiene, and scum (a white or yellow coating on the tongue, usually due to infection). If you can’t pinpoint it with a self-exam, your dentist will be able to help you find out what’s causing your bad breath.
• If someone tells you that your breath smells bad, don’t be ashamed. Think of it as constructive criticism.

Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly, rinse with antibacterial mouthwash, and floss between your teeth to remove plaque and resident bacteria. Drink plenty of water, and gargle with cold water to freshen your breath.

• Brushing your teeth before going to bed is very important. You can do an extra brushing with baking soda to reduce the amount of acid in your mouth and make it harder for bad breath bacteria to multiply.
• Use a tongue scraper (available at many drugstores and supermarkets) to remove any residue that has built up between the taste buds and the folds of the tongue. If you don’t have a tongue scraper available, you can use a toothbrush to brush your tongue. ^[5]
• Replace your toothbrush every two or three months. Over time, the bristles will become less effective, and your brush can accumulate bacteria. Change your toothbrush after you get sick because that way bacteria won’t have a place to hide. ^[6]

Eat foods that are good for your breath and avoid foods that create unpleasant odors. Apples, ginger, fennel seeds, berries, leafy greens, watermelon, cinnamon, and green tea are breath-healthy foods. You should incorporate these foods into your diet. Also, avoid foods that cause bad breath like onions, garlic, coffee, beer, sugar, and cheese. ^[7]

• Processed foods high in sugar such as cookies, candy, and cakes also contribute to bad breath.

Talk to your doctor about digestive health. Poor gastrointestinal health can be the culprit behind bad breath. You may have a stomach ulcer, an H. pylori infection, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Your doctor will help you treat these conditions and teach you how to maintain a healthy digestive tract.

Keep the nasal cavity clean. Allergies, sinus infections, and postnasal drip can all cause bad breath, so you should try to prevent and treat these conditions. Keep the nasal cavity clean and clear, and manage allergies so that the disease does not progress.

• Specialized nasal irrigation can help remove mucus that has accumulated in the nose.
• Drinking hot lemon water, using saline nasal drops, and taking vitamin C can help treat a stuffy nose.
• When taking vitamin C, follow the dosage instructions on the package. Adults should take no more than 2000 mg of vitamin C per day. ^[8]

Adopt a healthy diet. In addition to eating foods that are good for your breath, a healthy diet in general can limit bad breath. Reduce processed foods, red meat, and cheese. Focus on eating fiber-rich foods like oats, flaxseeds, and kale.

• You should also incorporate foods that are good for your gut microbiome into your diet, like unsweetened kefir, kimchi, yogurt, or take probiotic supplements.

Temporary treatment of bad breath. Chew gum, eat mints or use a Listerine lozenge (Listerine strip) before engaging in sensitive social situations. While you’ll certainly want to get to the root of the problem in the end and banish bad breath, for the time being, you can improve your breath. Please bring gum.

• Chew a handful of cloves, fennel seeds, or anise seeds. Their antiseptic properties will help you fight the bacteria that cause bad breath.
• Chew a piece of lemon or orange zest in your mouth – they provide a burst of fresh flavors. (You should wash the peel before chewing). The citric acid will stimulate the salivary glands – and fight bad breath.
• Chew on a sprig of parsley, basil, mint, or common coriander. The chlorophyll found in these greens helps neutralize odors.

Avoid tobacco use. If you need more reasons to stop smoking, here’s an easy one: smoking contributes to bad breath. Tobacco tends to dry out the mouth, and can leave an unpleasant odor even after you’ve brushed your teeth.