Yes, that co-worker who gives you tons of personal space and is forever offering you an Altoid is super nice, but she also may be trying to tell you something. Naturally, bad breath affects everyone at some point. As Dr. John P. Cunha, D.O. says, “The definition of bad breath, or halitosis, is an unpleasant odor of the mouth.” Everybody eats, so everyone’s breath will sometimes retain food odors.
Even though halitosis is the natural result of eating certain foods or even sleeping through the night, sometimes it can point to a larger problem. Bad breath, says Dr. Cunha, “Can occur on occasion, or it can be a chronic condition. It may be caused by foods a person eats, poor oral hygiene, medical conditions, or other factors.” Once you have ruled out an underlying cause of halitosis—such as liver or kidney disease—if you notice that you still have chronic bad breath, there are many bad breath remedies. So put down that tin of mints and consider the various causes and cures of a stinky mouth.
Read Related: Bad Breath: How to Combat It!
1. Fighting Food with Food
If you are a big fan of aromatics like onions and garlic, you don’t need to cut them out entirely. But consider eating them cooked instead of raw (they smell less strongly in that form) and follow up your meal with a few sprigs of parsley, which will help to combat the odor from the digestive track outward.
