How To Tell If You Have Bad Breath

I love garlic. I eat it every day. Therefore, I’m always paranoid about bad breath. But, how do we know for sure that we have bad breath? Sure, we can do the old “breathe into hand then smell” method, but how reliable is that? So, I continue to eat garlic each day while popping strong breath mints like they’re my last meal. If I’m talking to a client, I’ll occasionally do the “hand-over-mouth” cover up, but I’ve finally decided that I need to find a more reliable method for determining if I have bad breath and if I do, treating it.

First, let’s determine if we have bad breath. I found a great method that really seems to work. I could explain it, but I think you’ll better understand by watching this video.

Okay, now we’ve determined our breath completely stinks. How are we going to treat it? I spent a long time scouring the deep, dark corners of the internet to compile a master list of treatments for you. As with anything, what works for one person might not work for another, so I recommend experimenting until you find the method that works for you.

Brush your teeth, floss, use mouthwash and visit the dentist (the #1 remedy)

Use a tongue cleaner or tongue scraper (bad breath can come from a dirty tongue)

Suck on cough drops or throat lozenges (even though you don’t have a cough)

Drink hot tea, any flavor (specifically helps with garlic breath)

Chew on a lemon rind (if you can stand it)

Chew gum (breaks up the crud on the tongue)

Drink lots of water (dry mouth can cause bad breath)

Eat something coarse like raw carrots, celery or parsley (again, breaks up crud on the tongue)

Use strong breath mints (duh)

Stay away from stinky things: coffee, cigarettes, garlic, onions, etc…

Gargle with hydrogen peroxide for 30 seconds. Peroxide is a very good odor neutralizer. (But don’t swallow it!)

My mother’s ancient family recipe: Rinse and swish with warm salt water

Oh, and one more tidbit, if you and your loved one both eat a garlic dinner together, no need to worry about bad breath. According to Rachael Ray, two garlic breaths cancel each other out.

If you have another home remedy you’d like to share with us, please leave it in a comment below!