Tips and advice to fight bad breath
Feb/060
Tips and advice to get rid of bad breath, as reported in The Toronto Star…
Brush your teeth for two minutes; most people brush for 13 seconds — not good enough.
Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, “to replenish oxygen-rich saliva,” Katz says. Oxygen kills bacteria.
Breathe through your nose; avoid dry mouth, avoid alcohol — it dries out the mouth.
Be aware that many drugs — from antidepressants to antihistamines, including Prozac, Wellbutrin, Claritin, Motrin, Advil — produce bad breath as a side effect.
Floss twice a day and make sure you get into all the little crevices that can be breeding grounds for bacteria.
Avoid dairy products, especially cheeses — “they are easily converted into sulphur compounds by bacteria,” Katz says.
Limit intake of coffee and other acidic drinks such as tomato juice and all citrus juices. “Acid makes bacteria reproduce faster,” Katz says. Tea is a better choice.
If you have braces on your teeth, clean them thoroughly with a Waterpik.
Clean your tongue. Buy a tongue cleaner and use it — gently!
If you can’t ask someone to check the smell of your breath, test it yourself by licking the back of your hand. Take a whiff.
If you know people who have bad breath, but can’t tell them, go to Dr. Katz’s website, therabreathcanada.com. Click on “Someone with bad breath” and follow the instructions. An anonymous message will be sent from the folks at TheraBreath, politely informing the recipients that they may wish to take action.
Judy Steed
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