Bad breath is caused by a number of reasons ranging from the garlic and onions in the food you've ingested the previous night, gases from gastro-intestinal and dental problems and dehydration to more serious diseases such as tuberculosis, cancer, syphilis and zinc deficiency. People suffering from a sore throat and tonsillitis also suffer from bad breath. An easy way to avoid bad breath is to avoid drinking water during the meals. This interferes with the gastric juices and can be responsible for causing bad breath. It is also important to practice a strict dental routine, visiting your dentist regularly to get your oral cavity cleaned and also to ensure that you have no cavity problems. In addition to this you should brush and floss your teeth twice a day to keep your mouth clean and free of any infection. It is also important to clean your tongue properly using a tongue-cleaner or your toothbrush since the tongue can harbor a lot of plaque and can cause bad breath. You should also use a mouthwash with a fresh minty flavor to kill the bad breath. Green mouthwashes usually have thyme, peppermint or wintergreen, while red, spicy mouthwashes have zinc compounds which are also beneficial for controlling bad breath.
Apart from these simple steps to avoid bad breath, you can simmer some quince seeds in water, strain the water and gargle using this water every night. This is very effective in controlling bad breath. Figs are also beneficial for bad breath and thus you should have 1 tsp of fig juice every night before sleeping to reduce bad breath in the morning. This has the same effect as the sweet liquorices water available in the Middle East. An easy way to cure bas breath amongst children is to simmer some lemon pips in honey and consume this while it is still warm. In addition to these simple home remedies, parsley is said to be beneficial in controlling bad breath, so you can chew on some fresh sprigs of parsley and use it generously in your food preparations. You should also avoid eating too much garlic since the smell of garlic lingers in the mouth for a long time. Other culprits in food that can cause bad breath and should be avoided are: onions, hot peppers, pastrami, salami, pepperoni, anchovies and even certain cheese like camembert and Roquefort. You should also avoid coffee, beer, wine and whiskey since they cause plaque and drink a lot of water to keep your mouth clean and as bacteria free as possible.
answered by G M