How halitosis makes your life more difficult

Unfortunately, many Americans suffer from halitosis everyday! Our mouths are the gateway to relationships, but many people take advantage of this precious body part. How do you feel when you meet someone for the first time, and they have bad breath that is causing you to pull away? Imagine if that were you at a job interview, business meeting or first date. A lot of people overlook the fact that stinky breath can affect anyone - many people think this is something that only older individuals struggle with.

Combating halitosis can be challenging, but if you make a few tweaks in your daily routine, chances are it won’t be as difficult as you imagine. For example, coffee drinkers might think going a day without this luscious caffeinated drink will end horrendously, but trading just one of those cups for a steamy glass of tea may help. Tea is made from plants, and it is a great way to get vitamins into your system (and mouth). Also, try to drink as much water as possible to make sure the mouth is hydrated throughout the day.

Got that 3 p.m. stinky breath?
The worst time of the day for smelly breath is during the midafternoon - just about around the same time you are trekking over to the coffee maker for a java boost to get you through the latter part of the day. Even if you aren’t a coffee drinker, the midafternoon is the most common time of the day for bad breath, because it’s been quite some time since you brushed your teeth. Plus, if you’re not an avid water drinker, there can be some leftover lunch stuck in the crevices of your mouth (gross!). If you find yourself constantly concerned with bad breath, carry around an alcohol free mouthwash or sugar-free gum for an afternoon cleanse.

You may also be in a rush to get all your work done for the day that you postponed until the afternoon because of morning meetings, or maybe you had a groggy start to the day. Well cortisol, a hormone whose production in the mouth is generated by stress, can further dry out the mouth. When you are experiencing dry mouth, the lack of saliva is the direct culprit for bad breath.

Got stomach issues?
Having stomach problems like issues with acid reflux may be doing much more damage than you imagine. While the French fries that you ate for lunch are probably the culprit of your afternoon stomachache, all your colleagues may be just as aware as you are that you’re not feeling too hot. If you must chow down on greasy foods - which, let’s face it, we all enjoy from time to time - try to round out your meal with something healthy. Grab a glass of water instead of a cola, or balance your meal with something high in fiber. High fiber foods like fruits, veggies and whole grains can calm the stomach and alleviate bad breath.

Kick the nicotine!
Have you ever had a “close up” conversation with a long-time smoker? It’s not pretty. There are obviously countless reasons to kick the habit of smoking simply in regards to your oral health, but another reason to quit is to prevent halitosis. The chemicals found in cigarettes build up in your mouth, and the tar and nicotine can stick to your teeth, gums, tongue and insides of your cheeks. Smoking also dries out your mouth, which leads to bad breath. It may be easier to tell someone else to kick the habit than it is to do the kicking yourself. If you simply must have a puff of smoke every once in awhile, you will need to take extra precautions to battle stinky smokers breath.