Is it possible to stop persistent bad breath (also known as halitosis) in less time than it will take you to read this article?
Absolutely! Unquestionably!
If you have been plagued with persistent bad breath, this article will provide you a simple, easy and fast way how to get rid of bad breath once and for all.
The sad fact is bad breath is the #1 reason people go to the dentist. While halitosis can be a sign of more underlying issues that we’ll discuss later, more than 80% of bad breath can be eliminated by applying a simple two step oral hygiene technique we’ll explain in this article.
We know, we’ve been there. We’ve had the persistent bad breath that makes you self conscious about talking in confined spaces and causes you anxiety of the possibility of a snuggle with your romantic partner.
We all know that reaching for breath mints, with all their sugar or artificial whatever, serve as just a band-aid trying to cover up what a simple oral hygiene technique can eliminate so easily.
Before we lay out this simple strategy, let’s take a quick look at the main culprits that cause bad breath. For a deeper understanding on the causes of bad breath, stay tuned for an upcoming article where we will dive deep into understanding each of these causes.
4 Main Causes of Persistent Bad Breath
1. Imbalanced gut and/or mouth biome
2. Eating lots of sulfur rich foods
3. Smoking
4. Gum disease
Interestingly, there’s a common thread through many of these. Biochemically, a major contributor of bad breath is a high sulfur environment.(1) Lots of sulfur in the mouth can be simply caused by the classic ‘garlic and onions’ breath. You see, garlic and onions are high in sulfur (which is very good for you by the way).
Also, the bacteria that live in our mouths (oral biome) produce sulfur rich compounds as a waste product from them living in our mouths. The thug bugs implicated with gum disease also produce this same sulfur rich waste while they undermine one’s oral health populating along and under the gum line.
So, how do we reduce the amount of sulfur in our mouths?
To grasp why this simple strategy works so well, it’s important to understand that 80% of the bugs that produce bad breath live on the tongue. These bugs thrive in an anaerobic (low oxygen) environment too. To help them create this low-oxygen environment, these bugs create a scum (the polite term is ‘biofilm’) wherever they live, which allows them to multiply even faster (creating more bad breath).
The important points to keep in mind are:
1. 80% of the bugs that cause bad breath live on the tongue
2. These bugs thrive in low oxygen environments
3. They create a low oxygen environment by creating a biofilm on the tongue
The Game to Stopping Bad Breath in 30 Seconds
The first step is to remove the scum from your tongue.
If you have never cleaned your tongue, you are in for a rude awakening when you first try it. Cleaning the tongue can be done with a spoon or if you prefer to actually use a tool that’s been used for hundreds of years to clean the tongue, check out our awesome tongue cleaners.
Can’t I just brush my tongue to clean it?
That’s what we thought too, until we actually cleaned our tongues!
If you’ve never cleaned your tongue before (and are into a bit of a spontaneous challenge), we invite you to go brush your teeth now and brush your tongue like you normally do. Then take a spoon and drag the spoon over the surface of your tongue to remove the biofilm that your toothbrush didn’t budge. We promise you, you’ll never think that brushing your tongue is sufficient ever again.
That said, once we’ve removed the biofilm from our tongues, then the toothbrush can be very helpful in step two: lowering the population of bugs living in the surface of our tongues.
You see, the tongue is a really varied surface covered with lots of taste buds which gives the tongue the rough, uneven texture. This uneven texture is an AWESOME surface for bugs to lay down their biofilm and have a party.
So, step one is to remove the biofilm.
Step two is to lower the population of stink bugs on our tongues.
We do this by brushing a natural antimicrobial on the surface of the tongue. You can use many solutions to help with this.
Just be sure that what you use has 100% of the ingredients in the formula to help you navigate to greater oral health and not just to fill a bottle. It’s an unfortunate reality that we have to read labels for our oral hygiene products to make sure that there’s no toxic ingredients or artificial junk in them.
Our preferred natural antimicrobial to use to clean our tongues is our Healthy Mouth Blend, but we’re biased.
So, to recap the simple process to stop bad breath in 30 seconds, simply:
1. Scrape the biofilm off the tongue using a spoon or tongue cleaner designed to perform this important step.
2. Brush a natural antimicrobial over the surface of the tongue using your toothbrush to lower the population of stink bugs living on the tongue. Simply put a drop of Healthy Mouth Blend on your brush and get the bristles to wiggle in between all the nooks and crannies on the surface of your tongue.
3. Then simply swish your mouth with water and you’ll find that you just massively reduced any persistent bad breath for hours!
“How often should I clean my tongue?”
It’s really up to you. We clean our tongues each time we brush our teeth. However, if I know I just ate something pretty strong smelling and hope to be able to give my Sweetie a kiss, I’ll be sure to apply both of these steps (scrape the tongue AND brush Healthy Mouth Blend on the tongue) just to give me the extra confidence that my breath isn’t going to cause any grimacing or tearing. 🙂
If you’d like to watch a silly, quick video that details this process, just click the video below.
If you are new to our products and would like to give this ultimate bad breath elimination technique a try, our Healthy Teeth & Gums Starter Kit is the ideal place to start. The starter kit provides you with one of our awesome tongue cleaners, an equally awesome, specially designed Bass toothbrush, a spool of our favorite floss, a Jar of Shine (our Remineralizing Tooth Whitening Powder w/ Hydroxyapatite), and a bottle of our Healthy Mouth Blend.
If this solution doesn’t quickly stop bad breath in your life, you may be dealing with another common cause of halitosis, advancing gum disease. Thankfully, the path to stop even advanced gum disease is known. We have thousands of thrilled, happy customers around the world who have stopped advanced gum disease in their own mouths using our Healthy Mouth System.
For even more tips on how to get rid of bad breath, feel free to download our FREE eBook, What to Do When You Absolutely Must Have Fresh Breath.
As always, please share this article with someone who could benefit from this information (we realize it may be uncomfortable to share it with them due to the sensitive nature of bad breath, but appreciate your willingness to share anyway).
Helpful, Related Resources:
What to Do When You Absolutely Must Have Fresh Breath [free eBook]
The CURE for Bad Breath [video tutorial]
How to clean your tongue, balance your oral flora, & stop bad breath forever [video tutorial]
OraWellness tongue cleaner [product]
Bass toothbrush [product]
OraWellness Healthy Mouth Blend [product]
OraWellness Starter Kit [product bundle]
OraWellness Starter Kit Complete [product bundle]
OraWellness Healthy Mouth System [informational page]
References:
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3633265/
It still didnt take the bad breath away.
Aloha Sara,
We’re sorry that the steps we share in this article did not take the bad breath away in your experience!
For additional tips, you may be interested in checking out our free eBook, What to Do When You ABSOLUTELY Must Have Fresh Breath.
I hope that helps! Aloha! 🙂
Indeed a great article. Would like to add some more points on Hilatosis treatment.
To fight bad breath, brush your teeth at least twice a day. If possible, brush after every meal.
Floss to remove food particles and plaque formed between the teeth.
Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper to remove bacteria and dead cells that grow on the tongue.
If you have dry mouth, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, and reduce intake of caffeine to get saliva naturally flowing inside your mouth.
Those suffering from chronic sinusitis can use a saline nasal spray to fight halitosis.
Reduce the consumption of alcohol. Garlic, onion, and spicy food should also be avoided.
I heard that tonsil stones are the one reason for severe bad breath. It is graphic but I have gone to YouTube, and it is not fake.
We need to understand the etiology of halitosis first so as to treat it..
There are various causes of oral malodor..
Hi!I am now a 1st year university student(17 years old)
And I am now suffering from bad breath.
And it was since about 2 years ago.
I was so nervous for this and I couldn’t pay
attention to classes at my university.😟
If I were get rid of bad breath,I think I will be
one of the best students at my university.
And I really thanks to both of you for giving me
such advices🏳️I will try this ways.But,I worry about if my bad breath is still existing.
At university,I know some of my friends avoid
me although they don’t tell me.I know and I am
so awful about this situations.😔
Please I experience halitosis which goes and comes, I brush twice a day and scrup my tongue as well, I have a stomach problem, could it be the reason why, cos when I take in carbonated drinks, that is when I experience it most
You´re right, we have always to clean up our tongue every time we brush our teeth
The main reason, and the most common for bad breath, as you´ve correctly stated, is not cleaning our tongues, the rear part is the most relevant when it comes to produce bad breath
Keep up with the good jod,
Greetings from Caracas, Venezuela
I have a persistent bad breath of which I want to get rid of.I suggests mine is on throat halitosis, how can I eliminate that
one of the main reason of chronic bad breath is that the bad smell is coming from the stomach.
most of the cases that the valve {lower esophageal sphincter (or LES)} is not closing completely . which separates our stomach from the esophagus.
beside all the usual things for the mouth cleanliness and minimize the acid reflux you should strengthen your lower esophageal sphincter (or LES) by exercise mentioned in attached link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6M0sSMesx4
i tried the second exercise and i feel a difference .try yourself and if you feel a difference share to others
Awesome Blog! thank you so much for sharing these useful tips.. it truly is effective and will definitely help me gain my confidence back.
I have bad mouth smell since few yearr on and off ..butpresently it is there sinsce 10 days…if i keep calm observing my breath it will reduce …pl do help me in knowing the cause for this bad smell…
Thanks for good lesson on bad breath. Iam in Zanzibar- Tanzanian how I can get your products.
Hy i want to know how to have access to your bad breath fixing products. I live in The Gambia. Thankr
Thank you. Really helpful.
Waoo..I feel happy to read such a useful & effective blog on oral health.I love to be become your daily subscriber.Actually your post is considering to apprecaite for your job..great..well done.
Any advice with advance gum decease which cause halitosis
hello am from Nigeria and have suffered severely from bad breath, despite using several remedies it still persist, plz I would love to have a cure.
I suffer everyday with bad breath i can not hang around friend an family because i am embrassest to be around people i want to live a normal life like everyone else .I am 50 it been like this for 40 or more years.I need help bad what can i do.Please
most of the cases that the valve {lower esophageal sphincter (or LES)} is not closing completely . which separates our stomach from the esophagus.
beside all the usual things for the mouth cleanliness and minimize the acid reflux you should strengthen your lower esophageal sphincter (or LES) by exercise mentioned in attached link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6M0sSMesx4
i tried the second exercise and i feel a difference .try yourself and if you feel a difference share to others
Am from Nigeria. Please, I need the permanent solution to bad breath.
Thank you.
Is it possible that the biofilm creating bacteria are getting aid from toxicants resulting in malfunction of some different body organ? Usually my tongue would have a very thick yellowish and extremely smelly biofim, then i was told to use a liver tonic by a physician, although the biofilm was not much of a difference in terms of thickness, but the color had changed to white and less smelly. Wheres my regimen – scrape tongue multiple times – brush teeth – use a chlorine dioxide mouthwash. My breath is now reduced to 50% intolerance from what it used to be usually. I still find no relation with the liver tonic though (i have been to many gastroenterologists, they all find my digestive track normal).
Hi! What do you guys think of using a probiotic powder mixed with water to swish around your mouth? Do you think it is beneficial at all? Thanks!
Aloha Neuda,
Thanks for stopping by to ask!
We think this is a great idea. Much of the benefit really depends on the quality, quantity, and diversity of the strains used. This subject is a very fascinating one for us and you’ll be hearing much more about it soon here on our blog! 🙂
from phillipines
good day ,, what or where you post the product and i can buy,, where store ,,,thank you
Aloha Jay,
The best place given your location in the Philippines would be direct from our site. We ship all over the world every week and have shipped many times to Philippines. 🙂
Thanks for this video. I bought your starter kit which included a tongue scraper. But it was good to see it in action here.
2 questions: am I supposed to remove the plastic S thing holding the bottom of the scraper? It looks like his wasn’t held together at the bottom.
And, do you have suggestions for the situation where the tongue scraper gags you? I have always brushed my tongue, but when I tried the scraper, I could not put it very far on my tongue at all before activating my gag reflex. So I stashed it in the cabinet and went back to tongue brushing. But now this article and video makes me think I am missing out by only brushing my tongue. How to get better results?
Thank you!
Aloha Jennifer,
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Yes, the travel clasp should be removed. It’s only there to keep the tongue scraper together for easy shipment.
Regarding gag reflex… Just start using the tongue scraper regularly and over the course of a week or so you’ll be able to go further back. I still gag myself with it if I get too ‘aggressive’ with wanting to remove gunk from my tongue! 🙂
Thanks again for asking!!
My persistent bad bad was also the result of tonsil stones. Take a q-tip and gently rub each tonsil. If a hard substance plops into your throat, spit it out. It will be very sulfuric and foul smelling. This should help with bad breath as well.
Aloha Andy,
Agreed about the tonsil stones! While not as common of an issue, tonsil stones still are a potential source for foulness.
Thanks for offering your input here!
Aloha!
Hi Will,
I have tonsil stones, and I’m wondering what causes them and if your healthy month blend will help remove them forever?
Aloha Laura,
Thanks for reaching out to us.
Using the HealThy Mouth Blend can help your oral health in many ways, but it will not completely do away with tonsil stones.
Our tonsils are in the back of our throat, and they have grooves in which particles (like food) can become lodged. When this happens, our immune systems attack the ‘invaders’, and this creates tonsil stones. Sometimes these ‘stones’ just wind up coming loose and being swallowed. However, other times they remain stuck in the throat, where they foster bacterial growth and create stinky breath.
The good news is that regular oil pulling with vigorous swishing between the front and back of the mouth can help to dislodge existing tonsil stones (our blog entry “Can Oil Pulling Help Heal Leaky Gut?” describes what we mean by ‘vigorous’). Also, a quick search online will pull up several other things you can do to get rid of the tonsil stones you already have and to reduce the chances that new ones will form (one easy way to reduce the likelihood of new formations is to drink water after eating).
Thank you and Aloha!
I noticed that I mainly get tonsil stones when I eat pasta with wheat in it. 😉
most of the cases that the valve {lower esophageal sphincter (or LES)} is not closing completely . which separates our stomach from the esophagus.
beside all the usual things for the mouth cleanliness and minimize the acid reflux you should strengthen your lower esophageal sphincter (or LES) by exercise mentioned in attached link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6M0sSMesx4
i tried the second exercise and i feel a difference .try yourself and if you feel a difference share to others
Am living in South Africa, how can I get hold of your products esp those that purportedly solve the bad breath problem ( halitosis). I occasionally have bad breath. Thank you and kind Regards, Mgcini
Aloha Mgcini,
Thank you for asking. We do ship internationally and have successfully shipped our products to SA many times. We welcome you to order directly from our site. I suggest you take a close look at our starter kit.
Thank you!