SPEAKER: I'm not a dentist,
but I'm going to go out
on a limb to say
that bad breath, AKA halitosis,
is not fun.
And it's even worse for whomever
you're talking to.
Truth is half of us
deal with it at some point,
and that's men and women.
No gender bias here.
So where does it come from?
It's all about bacteria.
Our mouths are
a perfect environment
for these little critters.
Thankfully, there's plenty you
can do.
Here are five ways to fight
bad breath.
The first natural barrier
to halitosis is saliva.
Without it, you get dry mouth.
And dry mouth
is a perfect breeding ground
for the bacteria
that cause bad breath.
The solution?
Water, water, and more water.
The more hydrated you are,
the better.
Next up, pop a mint.
Right?
No.
Sugary mints, when
mixed with bacteria,
create a perfect storm
of pee-ew.
Instead, try sugar-free mints,
mouth sprays, and sugar-free gum
as a quick fix.
It won't get rid of the problem,
but at least your friends will
thank you.
Number three on the list,
green tea, which
is great for your breath
and your health.
Antimicrobials in green tea
work like a deodorant.
It's a natural disinfectant that
can minimize those nasty sulfur
compounds that cause bad breath.
Number four, tongue scraper.
No it's not a derogatory term.
It's a key foe of your festering
breath.
Scrapers are almost 7%
more effective on tongues
than toothbrushes.
And that 7%
might be all it takes to go
from bleh to bliss.
The number one biggest cause
of bad breath
is bad oral hygiene.
Brush your teeth twice a day,
floss, and use
an antiseptic mouthwash at least
once daily to remove plaque
and bacteria from your teeth
and gumline.
So there you have it, five
easy ways to keep bad breath
at bay.