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Break the bad breath cycle by fixing the one hidden cause you will not hear about from your dentist...
2009-10-29 |
That‘s right. Chances are your dentist can‘t do anything to help your bad breath, because for many, it has nothing to do with brushing your tongue or using the right mouthwash. It‘s not even about avoiding onions and garlic. Believe it or not, chronic bad breath can actually signal a hidden problem lurking in your digestive tract.
You see, every day there‘s a war waged in your gut. It‘s a battle for real estate, really. The bad bacteria (or intestinal flora) want to take over the good bacteria‘s territory. And, chances are, if you‘ve got chronic bad breath, the bad bacteria have already taken over quite a bit of territory.
Plus, as you get older, your army of good intestinal flora shrinks. That‘s why -- despite careful mouth care -- bad breath can be a big problem among older adults.
Eliminate bad breath for good!
Bad breath doesn‘t have to be a life sentence. You just have to get to the root of the problem. So, here‘s a list of things you can do to eliminate the causes:
1. BOOST YOUR INTESTINAL FLORA
Too much bad bacteria in your gut can affect your breath! So how do you give the advantage back to the good guys? Yep, I‘ve said it before. You‘ve got to start taking daily probiotics. And a puny yogurt isn‘t going to cut it. You need to call in the big guns and take a probiotic capsule containing billions of units of acidophilus.
2. STOP THE SUGAR
You‘ve also got to limit your sugar intake. Believe it or not, your sugar intake directly affects your breath. Interestingly, this is why you‘ll find that people with diabetes often suffer from bad breath. You see, harmful bacteria in your mouth and gut feed on sugar. So if you give them lots of fuel, the bacteria will spread. If you limit the sugar, the bad bacteria have nothing to eat so they stay in check. Now remember, I‘m not just talking about sugary foods, like cookies and candy. I‘m also talking about any processed white flour foods, like bagels, bread, and cereal. Cut out these kinds of foods from your diet and I bet you‘ll see an immediate improvement in your breath!
3. WATER, WATER, WATER
Drinking water helps to flush away bad bacteria from your mouth and gut. You don‘t have to go overboard. Just stay hydrated without resorting to sugary drinks. For instance, instead of coffee with cream and sugar in the morning, try drinking peppermint or ginger tea. For ginger tea, use whole, fresh ginger. Just heat up some water and add a slice of fresh ginger. Both peppermint and ginger aid in digestion. They also freshen your breath. Also, if you prefer something sweet in the morning, you can always add a few drops of the natural sweetener Stevia to your tea.
4. FRESHEN YOUR DIGESTIVE TRACT
Here‘s another secret weapon against bad breath: chlorophyll. It‘s the green pigment found in plants and vegetables. It also helps destroy harmful bacteria in your body. You can get more chlorophyll into your diet by eating more green foods, of course. Eat lots of spinach, Swiss chard, and romaine lettuce. When cooking green vegetables, lightly steam or sauté them. This keeps them green and preserves the chlorophyll. Also try to use fresh herbs in your cooking, especially parsley as it contains lots of chlorophyll. In fact, chew a sprig of parsley after meals. It will freshen your breath and help control harmful bacteria in your gut. You can also take chlorophyll tablets after meals and at bedtime. These will help cleanse your intestines and keep bad breath under control.
5. CHOOSE TOOTHPASTE AND MOUTHWASH CAREFULLY
I probably sound like a nervous Nelly, but I don‘t trust most toothpaste or mouthwash products on the market. Most tubes of toothpaste contain aluminum (one of the worst toxins to the human body). And most mouthwash products contain alcohol. This ingredient actually dries out your mouth and makes your bad breath worse over time!
Instead, go for organic, herbal-based toothpaste that‘s sugar and saccharin free. You may have to head to the health-food store to find one you like. In terms of mouthwash, look for a brand that‘s alcohol-free. Or skip it altogether. If you‘re following each of the above steps, chances are, you won‘t need it anyway! In closing, remember that you can control bad breath once and for all by getting to the root of the problem. By following these simple steps, you‘ll do more than just mask your symptoms. You‘ll correct a digestive problem that‘s started to take hold.
As an added bonus, you‘ll feel fresh and clean in your mouth all day long. And you‘ll definitely have more confidence talking to friends and family.
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