How to Test if You Have Bad Breath?

The causes of bad breath can be divided into physiological and pathological types. Physiological bad breath can be quickly eliminated, but if it is pathological, the primary disease needs to be resolved first in order to eliminate the bad breath. Bad breath can have a significant impact on a person's image, especially when interacting with many people. Some people may feel that their mouths have an unpleasant odor, but they cannot be certain it is bad breath. So, how can we test for bad breath? Let's take a look below.

1. Cupping Your Hand and Breathing: To test for bad breath, you can cup your hand over your mouth and breathe out. If you notice a strong or distinct unpleasant odor, it may indicate bad breath. Another method is to wear a mask for five or ten minutes and then remove it. If the mask has an unpleasant odor, it may indicate bad breath.

2. Using a Cotton Swab on the Tongue Root: If you cannot detect bad breath by cupping your hand and breathing or are uncertain, you can try using a cotton swab to swab the root of your tongue. If the cotton swab smells unpleasant, it indicates bad breath.

3. Licking the Back of Your Hand: Another method to test for bad breath is to lick the back of your hand after brushing your teeth or drinking water. Wait for a few minutes and then smell the area. If it smells like saliva, it is not bad breath. However, if there is an unpleasant odor in addition to the saliva smell, it may indicate bad breath.

Generally, the causes of bad breath may be related to excessive internal heat or problems such as periodontal disease and dental calculus. In such cases, we can eliminate bad breath by adjusting our diet and paying more attention to oral hygiene. For example, drinking lemon water, hawthorn water, and honey water can help. Additionally, rinsing the mouth with saltwater can reduce the odor of bad breath. Regular brushing of teeth and timely medical attention for any dental discomfort or pain are also important.