GQ: Ask an Expert: How to Battle Bad Breath
You brush regularly, and yet your friends keep politely letting you know that, hey, you might want a piece of gum. We asked Richard H. Price, D.M.D., why you get bad breath and what can be done about it.
“Bad breath is like underarm or foot odor—it’s caused by stinky fumes excreted by bacteria. And the drier you mouth, the more it encouraged bacteria to colonize. Saliva helps wash away bacteria. Remember that alcohol and dehydration make your mouth dray, so chew sugarless gum, eat fruit, and drink water to keep the saliva flowing.”
“Bottom line is, 90 percent of bad breath comes from the bacteria that live way back on the back of your tongue. They’re so far back that even if you brush and floss every day, you’re probably missing them. So use a tongue scraper—it’s like a squeegee for your mouth—twice a day, when you brush. If you don’t gag, you’re probably not doing it right.” —NICK BURNS