Breath mints results to Chronic bad breath
THE USUAL SUSPECT Breath mints can usually lead to bad breath because most contain sugar (which odor-causing bacteria feed on). Plus, sugar can promote tooth decay, which may also sour your breath. An alcohol in breath mints and alcohol containing mouthwashes dry out your mouth (so that saliva can’t wash bacteria away). Foods (such as garlic, onions, coffee, and tea), tobacco products, sinus problems, some medications, and some conditions (chronic tonsillitis, postnasal drip, and gastro-esophageal reflux) also cause bad breath.
A BETTER SOLUTION thorough brushing and flossing. Spend at least three minutes cleaning your teeth twice a day-or every time you eat. Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper (a loop-shaped device sold at drugstores) after brushing your teeth. Also key: Eat breakfast (even if it’s just a piece of fruit). Saliva flow stops at night, leading to morning breath. So if you don’t eat in the a.m., you won’t stimulate your salivary glands, and 30 minutes after brushing, you’ll have morning breath again.
LESS LIKELY CAUSES advanced gum disease can also trigger bad breath, and affects about five percent of women under 40. Your dentist can help control (and prevent) the condition by cleaning inside the pockets of your gums at least twice a year. If the problem is bad enough, you may need to have periodontal surgery.