6 Surprising Things That Can Cause Bad Breath (and One Cure)

6 Surprising Things That Can Cause Bad Breath (and One Cure) - The less saliva, the more bacteria - and the more potent the odor. An easy remedy (for your breath, if not your cold): Chewing gum - as long as it's sugarless - has been shown to increase the flow of saliva. Dentists have started recommending chocolate as a more healthful alternative to candy. Harms says that chocolate not only dissolves relatively quickly but also has less sugar than other candy, as well as a small amount of calcium to protect enamel.

Your Stuffy Nose 6 Surprising Things That Can Cause Bad Breath (and One Cure)
Pass the tissues - and some gum, please. When a cold prevents you from breathing through your nose, you're forced to inhale and exhale through your mouth. This dries out the tissues and reduces the flow of saliva - the mouth’s built-in cleanser, which not only rinses away food particles but also neutralizes decay-causing acids and acts as a natural antiseptic to keep bacteria in check. The less saliva, the more bacteria - and the more potent the odor. An easy remedy (for your breath, if not your cold): Chewing gum - as long as it's sugarless - has been shown to increase the flow of saliva.


Your Movie Treats
Bacteria have a sweet tooth, too. When you eat sticky candy like gummy bears, cherry vines and even mint chews, the bacteria "has a party," says Kimberly Harms, DDS, the consumer adviser for the American Dental Association. It feasts on the sugar and spreads to all areas of your mouth—including hard-to-reach areas in the grooves of the teeth. But here's a surprise: Dentists have started recommending chocolate as a more healthful alternative to candy. Harms says that chocolate not only dissolves relatively quickly but also has less sugar than other candy, as well as a small amount of calcium to protect enamel.


Your Movie Treats
Bacteria have a sweet tooth, too. When you eat sticky candy like gummy bears, cherry vines and even mint chews, the bacteria "has a party," says Kimberly Harms, DDS, the consumer adviser for the American Dental Association. It feasts on the sugar and spreads to all areas of your mouth—including hard-to-reach areas in the grooves of the teeth. But here's a surprise: Dentists have started recommending chocolate as a more healthful alternative to candy. Harms says that chocolate not only dissolves relatively quickly but also has less sugar than other candy, as well as a small amount of calcium to protect enamel.


Your Mouthwash?
Yep. Many brands of mouthwash and antibacterial mouth rinse contain alcohol—sometimes accounting for as much as 27 percent of total ingredients—that dries out your mouth, leaving a stale smell after the minty freshness wears off in an hour or so. Look for brands with no or little alcohol and save them for first dates or job interviews (or when recommended by a doctor).