Check for Bad Breath

How can you check for bad breath?

You might have really bad breath (also known as Halitosis) and not even know it. And whether you believe it or not, it is not possible to smell your breath by cupping your hand, breathing into it then smelling. All you are in effect doing is smelling your hand.

That's because humans are genetically structured in a way that makes it impossible to smell your own breath - it is a process referred to as Acclimation. Acclimation is compulsory, because without this hallmark, our sense of smell would be permanently muffled by our own odors and scents.

You can smell your breath in a whole different number of ways, and most can be performed at home. The most precise methodology of halitosis checking is one that can't be done at home. You will need to visit a clinic that features in halitosis and oral problems and they will use a Halimeter to measure the level of sulfides that have place in your mouth.

Why Sulfides? Sulfides are arguably the root cause of halitosis. Everyone has the same bacteria in their mouth, and the bacteria that we have in our mouths need to be there.

There is a lot of bacteria in our mouths and the bacteria actually perform the very important job of breaking down proteins in foods we eat, as well as in decaying oral tissue. But for some people, the bacteria behaves differently with these proteins and the resultant factor is known as "volatile sulfur compounds" (VSC). These sulfur compounds, also known as Sulfides, produce the odor.

Following are a number of methods for testing your breath at home. They are quite easy and in no way are they as compelling as using the Halimeter, but they can give you a very good idea on just how bad your breath is.

If you ask someone you trust to check your breath, you will know very quickly and accurately if your breath is bad. Tell them that you want a 100% bona fide answer, and get them to check your breath at sporadic times of the day, because there will be some fluctuations.

Simply wiping a piece of cotton gauze on your tongue and then inspecting it for coloration and smell is also a very simple and effective test for bad breath. If you sense an odor then you're more likely a bad breath sufferer. And, if you notice a yellow/brown discoloration on the gauze, you have definitely got a heightened level of sulfides and are very likely to have extreme halitosis.

The next method involve licking the back of your hand to check for bad breath, so you might want to make sure too many people aren't watching - they might think you're crazy.

The process is simple - just lick the back of your hand and let it dry for 10-15 seconds - then smell it. If there is an odor present, then you've got bad breath. The interpretation for this is simple. When you lick the back of your hand, the sulfides travel from your tongue to your hand.

Believe it or not, but dental floss can be a very simple method for checking on bad breath. In fact, it not only gives you an indication of whether your breath smells, but it can give you a clear plan on how to get rid of the smell too. That is, floss your teeth, paying particular attention to the rear teeth, then smell the floss - if you pull out chunks of food and they smell, then you'll know right away that your breath won't be too blissful, and you will also get a quick mindfulness of the fact that if you keep on flossing you might just get rid of the bad breath.

The easy tongue-coloration test doesn't specifically involve smelling anything, but it can give some very good insight into your bad breath problem. All you need to do is stand in front of a mirror and poke your tongue out as far as you comfortably can. What you are looking for is if there is any coloration, like white or yellow/brown, and if there is, then it is probable that you have a build-up of sulfides and as a result you'll have bad breath.

As you can see, there are numerous ways to check for bad breath without paying a visit to a bad breath clinic. But you do need to keep in sight the fact that these methods in no way compare to the performance of using a specialized tool like a Halimeter. In addition, Gum, Breath mints, breath strips and mouthwash are NOT the answer. They are just part of a multibillion-dollar-a-year industry which provides a very short 'cover up' for the real cause.

The real answer to solving the halitosis problem is to minimize the concentration of sulfides that exist in your mouth. Do this and people will stop offering you mints and breath strips, and they will hopefully be occupied with longer conversations with you.

There are many different methods that can be taken when trying to treat bad breath. Simple excersises such as brushing your teeth and tongue, regular visits to the dentist, chewing sugarless gum and avoiding alcohol and cigarettes are advised when trying to find a treat bad breath. Please visit www.badbreath-treatment.info for more useful information.

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