• Food
  • Dental problems
  • Dry mouth
  • Mouth conditions
  • Nose and throat conditions
  • Tobacco products
  • Diseases
  • Severe dieting

How To Tell If You Have Bad Breath At Home

If you're curious as to how to tell if you have bad breath at home, there are a few ways you can go about finding this out.  Asking anyone you live with if they think you have bad breath is of course one of the easiest but maybe not one of the most pleasant!  If you're concerned about your privacy or are a bit self-conscious there are some easier ways you can go about doing this.

First, in order to tell if you have bad breath at home you need to remember that just trying to breathe deeply after you exhale probably isn't going to do it.  Our bodies get very accustomed to our own smells and odors so we can't always tell if we have bad breath, body odor, if our clothes smell bad, and so on.  People who smoke can rarely detect the smell of cigarette smoke in their clothes or homes, despite the fact that nonsmokers can often immediately smell it!  So just trying to sniff your own air is not a good way to tell if you have bad breath at home.

A better solution might be to purchase a home meter that will tell if you have bad breath at home.  These meters work something like the breathalyzers that police officers use, in that they measure the amount of certain chemicals and enzymes in breath.  In this case, it would be hydrogen sulfide, which is a compound that carries the germs and bacteria that causes bad breath.  They often have a small meter that will tell you not just whether or not your breath is bad but just how bad it is, based on the amount of sulfide.  These are very easy, affordable, and private options that will tell if you have bad breath at home.  They're also very convenient if you have someplace to go or someone to meet and want to be extra cautious about your breath.

Of course, the best way to tell if you have bad breath at home is to simply do everything you can to avoid the problem in the first place.  Brush and floss regularly, and avoid foods that will linger on your breath such as garlic, peppers, onions, and coffee.  If you have chronic bad breath, talk to your doctor or dentist as this might be a sign of a more serious condition.
 
Next >