Bad Breath Picture

What would a bad breath picture look like? Obviously it's impossible to take a picture of an odor: we can't see a smell. The mention of bad breath, however, does conjure up a mental picture - perhaps a picture of people stepping back or leaning away from someone they're having a conversation with; perhaps a picture of swollen inflamed gums and decaying teeth; perhaps a picture of a sleep-disheveled person gargling with mouthwash in front of the mirror in the morning. It's likely different for everyone.

A bad breath tester would be helpful because many people believe that they have bad breath when they don't, and they often get that impression because people step away from them when they speak. In reality the movement is often involuntary or, at worst, the cause is an odor of garlic or onions, cigarette smoke, or some other transient breath odor. The mental bad breath picture of people moving away when you speak is misleading, and it contributes to a general mentality that everyone's breath smells bad.

In reality, everyone's breath does smell bad - sometimes. For most people it's an occasional thing and not something to worry about. And unfortunately, there's really no such thing as a personal bad breath tester. Some authorities suggest licking your wrist and then smelling that to judge just how bad the bad breath picture is. This may or may not work - if your suspicion that you have bad breath is based on an unpleasant taste in your mouth, perhaps from onions, strong cheese, or dry mouth from a head cold, your nose is unlikely to be able to overcome what your tongue is telling you.

A better bad breath tester is a physician or a good friend. Someone else's nose is a much better judge than your own. Pick someone you trust to give you the true bad breath picture and, preferably, ask them to check on several different occasions so you will know whether the problem is ongoing or transient. This should help you to figure out if it is associated with some thing you are eating or perhaps another personal habit, or if the problem is an ongoing one that requires treatment.

If your bad breath tester is a doctor or a dentist, and the bad breath picture is, well, bad, use the opportunity to discuss possible health causes and the best approach to treatment. If you've used the good nature of a close friend, make an appointment with your doctor or dentist before trying over the counter or mail order products, just to be sure there isn't some important health consideration you've missed.