The sinking feeling you have that the sandwich you just ate might be lingering on your breath is as common as it is distracting. It may even be a hot day and you haven't had as much water as you'd like, leaving you worried your mouth's dryness might smell unpleasant. Knowing how to tell if you have bad breath can be tricky, because you can't identify it yourself. Nonetheless, there are a few things you can do to improve it if needed.
Ask Someone You Trust
Requesting that someone evaluate the condition of your breath is an easy solution, but one of the most difficult answers to get. If you're feeling self-conscious about your breath, ask someone you're close with to just take a peek at the inside of your mouth. He or she may notice a white coating on the back of your tongue, which is often a sign of an odorous bacteria.
If you're concerned it may be a chronic issue – or are too embarrassed to ask a friend – you can always ask your dentist. He can evaluate the air from your mouth and from your nose, according to Mayo Clinic, giving you a more specific assessment of the source of the odor. A dentist can also help you figure out the best way to treat it, even if you're still unsure how to tell if you have bad breath.
Try the Sniff Test
If you're looking for a quicker indication of how your breath smells, another option is the sniff test. An easy way to do this is to lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment, then take a whiff. You can also floss between two teeth toward the back of your mouth and smell the floss, or use a tongue-scraper to gently scrape the tongue, then smell the scraper.
Taste Challenge
There are instances when you can actually taste the breath you're omitting. In these cases, the problem is usually caused by something potent you ate, such as garlic or tuna fish, or by a condition such as dry mouth or dehydration – the signs of which include thick, foamy saliva and a change in taste. If you have a stale or otherwise yucky taste in your mouth, there's a good chance it is reflected in the way your breath smells, too. A go-to solution is to rinse your mouth out with water, which washes away any food debris and stimulates the cleansing flow of saliva.
What to Do
Still worrying about your breath? There are ways you can curb the issue and neutralize the scent of the air you exhale. Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once is an essential part of your oral care routine, and is particularly important if you're worried about the scent of your breath. Sometimes your toothpaste simply doesn't do enough to remove the bacteria affecting your breath. To give yourself a minty, fresh boost which targets the bacteria on the teeth and tongue that create most unpleasant breath odors, try a specialized toothpaste or mouth rinse.
If you think your breath troubles are connected to your diet, consider keeping a journal of what you eat and note when you have bad breath, to see if there is a link. Eliminating certain foods from your diet may also help you pinpoint the culprit and see if your breath improves. Keep in mind bad breath that seems to persist no matter what you do can be connected to a medical condition, such as a digestive problem. Therefore, speaking with a doctor or dentist may be your best bet.
Halitosis is an embarrassing problem to have, but it's not a problem you have to live with. Getting an idea of how your breath smells and what's causing the smell will let you start an action plan and improve its quality.
