How to Banish Bad Breath
When a Mint Just Won't Do...
-- By Leanne Beattie, Health & Fitness Writer
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Is it Temporary or Chronic?
Temporary bad breath can occur after eating certain foods, such as onions and cabbage, which contain high levels of sulfur compounds. When these foods are digested, the sulfur compounds are absorbed by the bloodstream, carried to the lungs and released in the form of bad breath when you exhale or speak. Changing your diet to avoid foods like these can help prevent this type of bad breath.
Chronic halitosis, or long-term bad breath, is another story.
Bacteria flourish on your tongue, especially towards the back third. These bacteria break down the leftover food in your mouth, resulting in substances called volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). These VSCs are the most common cause of bad breath. To treat this kind of bad breath you need to reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth.
