In medical terminology, bad breath is referred to as halitosis. A variety of factors can cause Halitosis. The most common cause of bad breath is poor dental hygiene. Those who don't brush their teeth on a regular basis give an open invitation to bacteria that act on food debris in your mouth. Brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist regularly may reduce bad breath.
Don't worry, though. Halitosis is a treatable condition. Some of the latest medical breakthroughs in the treatment for halitosis are:
1. Avoiding dry mouth. One of the known causes of halitosis is a condition called dry mouth. Chewing gum may stimulate saliva to help prevent dry mouth. Keeping your body properly hydrated can reduce dry mouth. Surprisingly, some popular mouth washes contain a drying agent — alcohol — that can contribute to bad breath.
2. Vitamin C deficiency. A deficiency of vitamin C is also considered to be a factor that promotes bad breath. Smokers especially should take regular supplements of vitamin C since nicotine destroys vitamin C.
3. Use a mouthwash. The latest research on the treatment of halitosis has revealed that the regular use of mouthwash is good for you. Mouthwashes do the same thing as rinsing the mouth with water, but they have an added advantage due to the presence of odor neutralizing substances such as cetylpyridinium chloride, zinc chloride, or chlorhexidine. These help treat halitosis, so look for products containing these compounds. But also look on the product label for the percentage of alcohol content.
4. Zinc. In some chronic halitosis cases, the cure can involve the regular use of zinc and related compounds. Zinc has complex effects on the plaque forming process. The latest research has suggested that zinc salts combined with ionone, an ingredient of tomato juice, appear to produce an anti-plaque and anti-odor effect.
