A common question people ask is whether breath odor is curable and/or preventable. There is not a one time cure for this problem; it is a matter of changing your oral hygiene habits and using the correct oral hygiene products.

Generally, it is caused by gum disease, poor or worn-out fillings or crowns, digestive-system problems, tooth infection, sinus infection or nose disorders.

Gum disease creates bad odor through fermenting food debris and presence of pus from bone breakdown, with deep crevices formed between teeth and gums.

It may be reassuring to know that most people are equally susceptible to this condition. Everyone has bacteria in their mouth that can produce an embarrassing situation. The truth is most people could have better oral hygiene habits. Simple habits like proper brushing and dental flossing removes food debris and the sticky, slimy debris that accumulates on the tooth.

Contrary to what most people believe, research has shown that 80% of bad breath originates from the tongue. Taste buds on tongues are large enough to collect debris and bacteria to cause breath odor. If your tongue has obvious debris on it you need to use a tongue scraper.

A six monthly scale and polish by your dentist removes tartar (hard calcified accumulation on teeth) and stubborn debris that otherwise cannot be removed through home dental care. Your dentist can also recommend a mouth rinse to help kill off bacterias that lodge in your gums that cause bad breath.

As mentioned earlier other causes of this condition can be digestive problems or nose disorders that can be determined by a visit to your local doctor.

Temporarily masking your breath odor with mints and sprays can worsen the problem. Their ingredients create a hospitable environment for bacteria to thrive in your mouth. You must kill the nasty bacteria that omit foul odors from your mouth to eliminate the problem. Even though you may feel helpless and discouraged that nothing will work, you can overcome this unwanted condition.