Bad breath can often be a difficult condition to pin down precisely because there are so many things that can cause it. Halitosis-otherwise known as bad breath-is one of those things that can be caused by many different things. Bad breath can be caused by lack of proper salivation, dry mouth, poor oral hygiene, certain pungent foods, certain medications or therapies and it can be caused by potentially serious underlying medical conditions.

Does Your Bad Breath Originate in the Oral Cavity?

How can you tell if your bad breath originates in the oral cavity? How do you know if bad breath is indicative of more serious underlying medical condition? If you suffer from chronic halitosis, you should most definitely pay a visit to your medical professional. This can be useful in helping you find out what's going on in your mouth. Your doctor or pharmacist will help you determine if your halitosis originates in the mouth. In the meantime, here are some ideas that can help you pin down the true cause of your chronic halitosis.

The Oral Hygiene Test - Brush and Floss Your Way to Better Breath

Everyone knows what makes for good oral hygiene. But how many of us actually practice perfect oral hygiene every single day and night? Let us say that for the sake of discovering the true genesis of your halitosis problem that you will be practicing absolutely perfect oral hygiene for at least one week. Make sure that you brush at least two times a day for a full two minutes, floss each night night between each tooth, and do some careful tongue brushing every time that you brush. After a week, check to see if your halitosis has gotten any better. Does your breath feel any fresher? Is there a better taste in your mouth than there was before? Has your breath appeared to have improved?

The Dry Mouth Test - Is Your Mouth Getting Enough Salivation Satisfaction?

If you suffer from dry mouth, there is a good chance that you also suffer from some kind of halitosis. Here is an easy test to see if your dry mouth is causing you to suffer from chronic bad breath. It is an easy test that you can do at home. Simply let your mouth go dry, than get a taste of your breath. Is there a noticeably bad taste in your mouth? Does your breath seem like it has a bad odor? If so, you know that your chronic bad breath most likely originates in your mouth.

The Mouthwash Test - Swish Your Way to Better Breath

There is another very easy test to help you determine whether your case of halitosis originates in the mouth. This is known as the mouthwash test and it is also simple to conduct on your own at home. For a whole week, simply use a strong mouthwash every day. After a week of strong mouthwash use, check the status of your breath. Does it feel fresh and clean? Did the regular mouthwash use seem to have any kind of effect? If it seems like your mouthwash helped your halitosis, this is another sign that your bad breath originates in the oral cavity.