Bad breath: If your floss stinks your mouth stinks

[sjoes006]

A common concern amongst individuals is how fresh is their breath. Bad breath- better known as halitosis effects many.

Even those no no plagued with the problem try to do the self breath test to no avail. The best way to discover of you have bad breath is to floss. Of your dental floss is stink than so is your mouth.

What at can you do? Most bad breath comes from the tongue so tongue scrapes work well. Repeated flossing a good good health should also help but if they don't see a specialist.

[tyrantfuryre]

Tongue scrapers are a waste of money. Who told you all the bad breath comes from your tongue? That's false information. Also manual toothbrushes have tongue scrapers on the back of them. However manual toothbrushes are a thing of the past really. The difference between a manual brush, an electric brush and an expensive electric brush is night and day. Water picks are where it's at when it comes to flossing.

[sjoes006]

Yes water picks are the bomb.

[sjoes006]

But it doesn't replace flossing.

[tyrantfuryre]

Actually it does..

[samsw]

when you brush your teeth, you can use the toothbrush to clean your tongue better than a tongue scraper.
after brushing DO NOT rinse mouth with water... leave what's left of the toothpaste (ie it'll now be 'foam') in your mouth... this way the toothpaste actually has time to work.
only use mouthwash at least half an hour after brushing before you use it. (and use an alcohol free mouthwash)

[MistiGal]

most toothpastes has lureth (sp)? sulphate in it which is carcinogenic... I wouldn't be leaving any of that type of toothpaste with in my mouth, I would rather use a peppermint oil and gargle wash your mouth with it as it lasts for hours..

[MistiGal]

@samsw :))

[samsw]

wow! I never knew that. just checked my toothpaste and it doesn't seem to have it in. phew!

[Ozanne]

@MistiGal, I have heard of this too and years ago switched to all natural toothpaste and oil of oregano. I've actually had better checkups and my dentist had asked me once "what are you doing differently lately?" I told him, but I think they push too much brand name stuff on us that he wasn't sure what to say, only questioned if I found they had a yellowing effect, which they didn't. He just ended up saying, "well then keep it up". :)

[samsw]

I've never heard of these products before.. I'm really interested in this stuff.
do these 'natural' toothpastes have the fluoride in and if so how much (ppm)

[sjoes006]

@Ozanne tanks for he interesting comment. I do imagine it might be better for the gums. I know your across the pond but where do you buy it? Or do you make it?

The stuff at Wholefoods still has a lot of ingredients and I've never been very pleased with any of them.

[Ozanne]

Health food stores should carry both natural toothpastes and oil of oregano.

[WesTheGuru]

I have bad breath, and ya I've found flossing consistently, and focusing on the very back teeth really helps. Mouthwash doesn't work for more than an hour or so, but flossing works for the full day.

[tyrantfuryre]

Flossing is actually the most important aspect of cleaning your teeth, period.

[Anonymous]

mouthwash is key