How do I get rid of bad breath?

How do I get rid of bad breath?

A clean mouth is the best defense against bad breath. See a dentist regularly, floss between your teeth every day, and brush with a fluoride toothpaste two to three times each day. (One study also found that toothpastes with a high concentration of baking soda reduced bad breath.) And don't neglect your tongue, especially the back section. By brushing it gently with a toothbrush or using a plastic tongue scraper (also gently!), you can deprive bacteria of a prime breeding ground. Go slowly and you'll learn to avoid the gag reflex. According to one study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, after dental and tongue cleaning, concentrations of key odor-causing bacteria dropped from 75 to 25 percent. Finally, have your teeth cleaned professionally by a dental hygienist every six months.

For extra protection, you can kill odor-causing germs by gargling a mouthwash right before bedtime. Only a few kinds appear to work well, however -- avoid brands that contains alcohol, since such a mouthwash has a drying effect and can accelerate the development of bad breath. Some dental researchers have found that mouthwashes containing zinc chloride, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, or other oxidizing chemicals to be effective in reducing or eliminating bad breath. According to Dr. Harold Katz, founder of California Breath Clinics, the only effective mouthwashes are those that "oxidize" volatile sulfur compounds and turn them into non-odorous organic salts.