Do You or Do You Not Have Bad Breath?
Bad breath is a fairly common condition than you might like to think. It can befall the best of us and can range from a light scent to a fainting-induced odor. Nonetheless, most of us are not aware. Family or friends can hesitate to inform us, most likely unwilling to offend us. Halitosis or bad breath is a sensitive subject. Whether we have the condition or not, it is best to find out ourselves.
While we all know that certain foods like garlic, onions and fish can produce mouth odor, a good tooth brushing, flossing and a gargle can make it disappear. However, these foods can actually mask real halitosis or make it worse. As it is, it is not easy for us to pick up our own scent. In fact, you can’t smell your own breath by just blowing into your closed hands and try catching the odor. It doesn’t work that way.
Why is that so? The body is designed so that the senses are accustomed to the smell of one’s own breath.
Evolution has helped our noses to be acclimatized to our own scent and yet detect strange odors that are not our own. Since we exhale constantly, we become accustomed to our own smell.
So how else can we tell if we are sporting halitosis?
Unless you ask somebody else’s opinion, you may not know. One such way is to do ‘the cotton test’. Get a piece of cotton gauze and with it wipe the top surface of your tongue. Smell it. A foul odor and a yellowish stain transferred onto it will tell you that you’ve accumulated a high sulphide production level, meaning your breath is bad.
Another way is to lick the back of your hand. Let it dry for 5-10 seconds and then smell it. Or use dental floss by running it between your back teeth. Smell the floss. It may be the level of odor that other people detect in you. Another way is to stick your tongue out as far as possible in front of a mirror. Observe the furthest part of your tongue. Is it whitish? It’s a sign of bad breath.
A visit to your dentist can really identify the cause of your halitosis. If it’s a chronic condition your dentist can give you a professional diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment depending on the source.
Help with Halitosis in Bellevue
If you have taken us up on our detection tips for bad breath and conclude you may have bad breath, or perhaps you are still unsure, do come for a consultation. Overlake Dental in Bellevue see cases like this and can very well lend professional advice and treatment.
