ecoteam, the science of smell expert group - deodorant & aromatherapy

_Treatment for Bad Breath:

Brushing, Flossing and mouthwash: These are all critical to good oral hygiene, but they only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. However, if you fail to brush daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, which breeds bacteria and can cause odor.

Products:

• Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash: One of America's favorite home remedies, this mouthwash contains extracts of eucalyptus and thyme that actually kill the germs that cause bad breath. Most mouth bacteria die after a 30-second exposure to Listerine. The product is made by Johnson & Johnson. Website: www.listerine.com.
• Cepacol is another antiseptic mouthwash that can kill germs, especially Staphylococcus bacteria. Website: www.cepacol.com.
• Colgate and Crest are among American Dental Association approved toothpastes. They do a good job cleaning your teeth and tongue, but again won’t solve bad breath entirely.
• Websites:  www.colgate.com, www.crest.com
  

Brush your tongue: Your tongue is covered in taste buds that have a small mushroom shape if you look at them under a microscope. The caps of these buds can catch microscopic bacteria that cause bad breath so it is important to brush your tongue as well as your teeth.

Change your diet: As mentioned above, toothpastes and mouthwash can only mask the smell of bad breath. The smell won’t completely go away until the food leaves your body, so you may want to change your diet to prevent breath odor.

Drink lots of water: Keeping your mouth moist stimulates the production of saliva which washes away dead cells, food particles and bacteria that contribute to bad breath.

Chew on parsley: This herb can help mask the smell of bad breath, but it won’t cure it.

Chew a breath mint: Mint can mask bad breath, but it cannot remove it. The combination of lemon and mint is best for masking garlic odor.

Avoid Smoking: Tobacco products can cause terrible breath problems among other health issues.

Visit the Dentist: If periodontal disease is the cause of your bad breath, the dentist may refer you to a specialist in treating gum problems or prescribe a special antimicrobial mouth rinse.