Fixing bad breath.

[Nr1Humanoid]

Basically, I've been neglecting dental hygiene for years. My current toothpaste is like the first I've bought since 2007.

But I get so many bad breath complaints that I've started brushing regularly again. And scraping my tongue, flossing and using mouthwash.

Still hear complaints. Any other suggestions I should try?

[hulkblood]

pretty much keep doing what your doing and chew some gum or eat mints it usually helps and it may be possible you could have Halitosis due to not brushing your teeth for so long so it could take a little while before it goes away.

[DeathRay]

Go to the dentist. After so much time without brushing your teeth you probably have a few rotten ones, and if that's the source of your bad breath, then all the toothpaste in the world will not help you.

[Nr1Humanoid]

Apr 23, 2011 20:15:13 GMT -5 DeathRay said:

Go to the dentist. After so much time without brushing your teeth you probably have a few rotten ones, and if that's the source of your bad breath, then all the toothpaste in the world will not help you.

I do want to, but being apartment hunting the last thing I can afford is an expensive dentist.

[Citizen Snips]

Apr 23, 2011 20:15:13 GMT -5 DeathRay said:

Go to the dentist. After so much time without brushing your teeth you probably have a few rotten ones, and if that's the source of your bad breath, then all the toothpaste in the world will not help you.

THIS. I have a co-worker who did the same thing as you did and has now realized he waited far too long. He has breath like a corpse because his gums and teeth got so bad and it will not go away.

[emoney3265]

Get that new mouth rinse out. It gets the very hard plaque out supposedly. I forget what it's called. Crest something? Oral B?

[Alex Shelley]

You might want to check for tonsil stones. Basically, your tonsils collect food stuff in them, which solidifies into these little gross white balls that smell like shit, causing bad breath. Sometimes they'll be poking out of your tonsils and you can see them with a flashlight. If you don't have a bad gag reflex they're fairly easy to poke out with a finger.

[Claw died]

f***in' hate tonsil stones.


































Hate 'em.

[Brandon Walsh is Insane.]

You probably also have gum disease... which is going to give you bad breath as well.

Cavities, too.

Good luck turning it around... mints and stuff will mask it for now until you get to see a dentist.

Good luck.

[noleafclover1980]

Ok, not to be a dick... but how the f*** can you do that anyway?Like how little regard for your won health and hygiene do you have that it takes others saying "dude, your breath stinks* before you decide to take care of that?

[emoney3265]

I think gum or tic tacs would be best. Mints such as lifesavers just puts a bunch of sugar on your teeth which smells like shit after awhile.

[CaptainFall]

Find a dentist, a cheap one if need be. Cut back on something else if you need to pay for it and prioritise this. All the Tic Tacs in the world aren't going to help you as much as seeing a dentist and fixing the problem.

[emoney3265]

Apr 24, 2011 3:05:15 GMT -5 CaptainFall said:

Find a dentist, a cheap one if need be. Cut back on something else if you need to pay for it and prioritise this. All the Tic Tacs in the world aren't going to help you as much as seeing a dentist and fixing the problem.

Well right. I meant for the time being until he can afford it.

[Nr1Humanoid]

Apr 24, 2011 3:01:33 GMT -5 noleafclover1980 said:

Ok, not to be a dick... but how the f*** can you do that anyway?Like how little regard for your won health and hygiene do you have that it takes others saying "dude, your breath stinks* before you decide to take care of that?

The million dollar question. I'm very weak that way, by just not giving a s*** until I get complaints. I'm the same about my weight.

I'll definately go see a dentist, if only for an examintaion to start.

[potpie]

Try to find a dental school to do it. It's cheap, but clear your entire schedule for the day because they're slow as hell. If you have time off from work, take it, because on top of having to sit there for 5 hours you'll also be incredibly sore. I have been systematically correcting my teeth over the past year, after 5 years without insurance ( I did brush though). Some advice for you in the meantime:
1) buy yourself floss, rinse, and a mechanical toothbrush. The rinse kind doesn't matter, because they all work the same, and some of the whitening stuff can actually hurt your teeth worse. The mechanical toothbrush is not cheap, but it teaches you good brushing habits. We don't brush anywhere near as long as we have to
2) Check your diet. Often bad breath is a sign of vitamin deficiency. Are you a meatatarian? If so add more dark colored veggies in your diet. Do you eat enough fruit or drink enough water?
3) Lay off the soda. Seriously. It's a tooth killer.

[Efren]

Buy a decent water pick, those things are f***ing awesome. Theres no amount of flossing or tooth picking that can get as much food between your teeth as that thing can yet its a lot more gentle with your gums.

A good dental higene trick I use is before regular brushing I grab a napkin and wrap my finger around it then proceed to clean my teeth and gums with it, you remove so much plaque and food remnants that way that you cant with brushing, then its off for regular brushing, flossing tounge scraping, and mouth wash.

[Red Impact]

Apr 23, 2011 20:27:22 GMT -5 Nr1Humanoid said:

Apr 23, 2011 20:15:13 GMT -5 DeathRay said:

Go to the dentist. After so much time without brushing your teeth you probably have a few rotten ones, and if that's the source of your bad breath, then all the toothpaste in the world will not help you.

I do want to, but being apartment hunting the last thing I can afford is an expensive dentist.

Dental schools are really cheap for that, if you don't mind a less private cleaning and evaluation. You'll be in a big room with a lot of other people doing their own work, but the students have dentists to check everything.

I'd also look to see if there are cheaper places around, like a dental depot. They might be a better deal than a private-practice dentist.

[theryno665]

Apr 23, 2011 21:04:20 GMT -5 Alex Shelley said:

You might want to check for tonsil stones. Basically, your tonsils collect food stuff in them, which solidifies into these little gross white balls that smell like s***, causing bad breath. Sometimes they'll be poking out of your tonsils and you can see them with a flashlight. If you don't have a bad gag reflex they're fairly easy to poke out with a finger.

Yup, I get these a lot. Luckily, they don't really affect my breath (at least I haven't been told so) but I usually try to get them out whenever I see them. I've become quite adept at getting them out.

And though it's not an extreme measure, I'll suggest cinnamon gum. I saw on Food Science or whatever that show is that anything cinnamon is the best for fighting, or at least masking, bad breath.

[Nr1Humanoid]

Apr 24, 2011 13:12:25 GMT -5 @potpie said:

Try to find a dental school to do it. It's cheap, but clear your entire schedule for the day because they're slow as hell. If you have time off from work, take it, because on top of having to sit there for 5 hours you'll also be incredibly sore. I have been systematically correcting my teeth over the past year, after 5 years without insurance ( I did brush though). Some advice for you in the meantime:
1) buy yourself floss, rinse, and a mechanical toothbrush. The rinse kind doesn't matter, because they all work the same, and some of the whitening stuff can actually hurt your teeth worse. The mechanical toothbrush is not cheap, but it teaches you good brushing habits. We don't brush anywhere near as long as we have to
2) Check your diet. Often bad breath is a sign of vitamin deficiency. Are you a meatatarian? If so add more dark colored veggies in your diet. Do you eat enough fruit or drink enough water?
3) Lay off the soda. Seriously. It's a tooth killer.

We don't really have any cheap places or dental focused schools in this country so that's pretty much out.

Could def. have more fruit and water. Drink way too much soda.


Thanks for everyone's suggestions, hopefully I can avoid being known as the adult that smells (it's the kids at work that complain, "what on earth did you eat?")

[Franchise]

Yes, go to the dentist for sure. In the meantime brush your teeth well, and especially your gums. If your gums are a dark red color it means you probably have some sort of gum disease, specifically gingivitis, which causes bad breath. Your gums will probably bleed a bit but it's a necessary evil.