Bad Breath Self-test
Many people have questions regarding their
breath. Many are unable to tell if they have bad breath. Often times,
you will hear a friend talk about someone else's horrible breath, yet
never tell the other person. A simple technique one can perform on their
own, is to take a bad breath self-test which involves a few simple steps:
- Take a dry, clean unscented cloth and retract the tongue
with one hand and scrub the furthest part of your tongue for about 5
seconds. This should include about 4 good scrubs. Wait approximately
30 seconds and smell the cloth. If it has a bad smell, it may signify
halitosis.
- Take a piece of unwaxed, unscented floss and floss the upper or lower
posterior teeth. Usually 2 to 3 teeth should be sufficient. Wait about
30 seconds and smell the floss. Again, if it has a smell. one may have
halitosis.
- Lick the back part of your hand ( not the palm side), for about 5
seconds. Wait about 30 seconds. If you smell a bad odor this too may
indicate halitosis. These are some of the simple techniques one
can use to help determine if they have bad breath. By brushing , flossing
and gently brushing your tongue and visiting the dentist regularly,
you may reduce the level of bad breath. If this does not help, your
dentist can place you on an anti-halitosis program to help alleviate
the problem.
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