There are millions of people suffering from bad breath. In fact, it should be pretty safe to say that everyone suffers from it from time to time depending on what was just eaten. Yet, there are people that do suffer from bad breath all of the time and those people are looking for relief.

Obviously, bad breath can harm relationships and even your career. Therefore, you have to be careful on this account.

Not all mouthwash is created equal. For example, there is a difference between covering up a problem and attacking its root cause. Mouthwash may only be part of the equation. Other things like chewing xylitol gum or using a nasal and sinus irrigator can have an impact on whether you have bad breath or not too!

However, this article is about bad breath mouthwash, so I will focus on that for now. As you are well aware there are many mouthwashes on the market that claim to help in various ways.

First, I want to focus on what you do NOT need in a mouthwash. Have you ever picked up a bottle of mouthwash and examined the label? Sometimes you see the names of chemicals that span far to many syllables. I really think that any mouthwash that is relying on chemicals with really long names are not necessary.

What we make in laboratories is not always good for us. Sometimes we figure out decades later that some substance is harmful in a different way than was initially looked for.

What about alcohol laden mouthwash. Here too is a problem. Alcohol has a powerful drying effect on the mucous membranes of the mouth. When those membranes become less moist, the bacteria really like that. It allows them to multiply more rapidly. Have you ever smelled the breath of someone who recently rinsed their mouth with an alcohol laden mouthwash. It is really like another kind of bad breath! Nothing was really accomplished by using it!

When combating bad breath, you are really looking to reduce the population of VSC or Volatile Sulfur Compound producing bacteria. These are the kind that can really give you a severe case of bad breath.

There is another aspect to many mouthwashes that is lacking. That is pH balance. You see, much like the less moist mucous membranes mentioned above a low or acidic pH can cause the bacteria that are plaguing you to multiply more rapidly – they love an acidic environment. This is slightly similar to the pH balance of a fish tank. You have to monitor that pH for the health of your fish. Well, your mouth is also concerned with this.

Since the bacteria that cause bad breath are often anaerobic in nature, which simply means that they like to avoid oxygen, then it is too our benefit to place oxygen in their environment. It will either slow them down drastically or cause them to die.

Therefore, you want two major things in your mouthwash for bad breath. You want pH balance and oxygen. Not many mouthwashes can deliver them. I know of two brands and only two that have both of these components.

Click Here to Read More about Bad Breath Mouthwash

David Snape is the author of the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease. ISBN: 978-0981485508 – Available online at most book retailer sites. It can also be ordered by most book stores.

Disclaimer: This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not intend to render advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, visit your periodontist or physician for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.