Effective Methods to Test Your Bad Breath

By Paul J. Heldt - The Bad Breath Report

There are countless ways to check if you have bad breath, but the way most of us check our breath (by cupping our hands over our mouth and taking a whiff) is the worst possible way to check your breath.

Are We Immune To Our Own Odors?

Your nose has an incredible ability to adapt. While some scientists debate whether or not we are truly "immune" to our own body odors, it is true that after we are exposed to a smell for long enough, we don't notice it.

Because of this, asking other people to honestly evaluate your breath is the best method for determining the severity of your bad breath.

Fool-Proof Methods You Can Try At Home

Although asking friends and family to evaluate your breath is best, you may find it embarrassing and humiliating to ask other people to smell your breath. Who can blame you! Virtually everyone is conscious about their breath...

Below, I outline the pros and cons of different self-testing techniques.

Hand-Cupping Method:

This is one of the worst methods, as it is difficult to direct the air coming out of your nose into your mouth. Furthermore, it is easier to smell bad breath when the odor is removed from your mouth (i.e. with a cotton swab, toothpick, etc.) than when it is coming out of your mouth.

Using a Toothpick

Using a toothpick between your teeth (and to scrape a little film off your tongue) is a better way to check for bad breath, but it's not flawless. It's quick and easy, if you're on the go.

However, because most bad breath originates from the back of your mouth, smelling a toothpick will only give you a partial idea about how bad your breath is.

Licking Your Wrist

Another common way to check for bad breath is to lick your wrist, let it dry for a minute, and then smell it.

Unfortunately, this method is also not perfect. You are not able to get a sample of VSC (volatile sulfuric compounds) from the back of your mouth - where bad breath originates. Plus, it leaves your wrist sticky and smelly. Using a toothpick is just as reliable - and less messy as this method.

Swabbing Your cheeks

A reliable way to check you breath is to use cotton or gauze to swab the back of your tongue and inside your cheeks. Then, smell it.

Smelling Dental Floss

This method is about as reliable as using a toothpick, as you cannot get a reliable sample from the back of your mouth. Make sure to use unscented dental floss if you check for bad breath this way.

Use a Halimeter

Most dentists and dental hygienists can test your level of bad breath using a halimeter--an electronic device that measures bad breath. While this is one of the best ways to check for and measure your bad breath, it's not cheap. You'll have to pay for the test (or a deductible) each time you visit their office to test your breath.

At-Home Testing Kits

You can purchase home testing kits for around ten to twenty dollars. These kits include swabs, to gather bacterial and sulfuric samples from the back of your tongue. You then take your samples and soak them in a solution, and wait several minutes for the solution to change color. The color of the solution indicates the severity of your bad breath.

These kits are very reliable, but they are impractical for daily use, due to their cost. Using an at-home testing kit is a great way to gauge your progress (i.e. every two months), to see if your breath is improving or getting worse.

First Impressions Are Paramount

Whichever self-testing method you choose, always go with your first impression. The more you smell your bad breath sample, the less you'll notice it. Just give it one big whiff and decide how severe it is.

Try to associate the smell of your sample to smells you recognize - such as rotten eggs, sweaty feet, etc. I know, it's not very flattering, but associating and recording the smells you recognize is a semi-reliable way to gauge your progress.

The Best Times to Test...

Understand that the time you choose to test your bad breath (if you are recording your results) is important, so that you do not skew your results.

You should try to test your breath about one hour after brushing your teeth... provided you have not eaten anything during that time.)

Testing your breath immediately when you wake up is a bad idea, as everyone has some type of morning breath, since saliva production almost grinds to a halt when you sleep. Testing after you eat is a bad idea, as you will smell the odor of the foods you eat - rather than bad breath produced by bacteria in your mouth.

Is It Coming From Your Nose?

Many people believe that bad breath odor comes from their nose. Although this happens in some people (about 5-10% of bad breath sufferers), most people do not emit bad breath odors from their nose.

Since it's impossible to smell the odor coming out of your own nose, the only way to determine if bad breath is coming from your nose is to ask a trusted friend or family member to tell you.

Sometimes, odors coming from your nose may represent a much more serious problem than halitosis - such as a sinus infection. If you notice any odor coming from your nose (but not from your mouth), you should consult with your physician to ensure it is not a serious health problem.

Are They Covering Their Noses?

Many people tell me they gauge their bad breath, based on how many people around them cover their noses when they're talking to them.

While there is some reliability to doing this, this method is not perfect. Your results may be inaccurate, if:

• You stand very close to people when they talk. This makes most people uncomfortable, and any breath - fresh or not - may cause people to back off and/or cover their noses if you stand too close.



• They have a habit of touching their nose, mouth, and face. Many people touch their faces without even realizing it. If everyone covers their nose when you talk to then, it might be because of your breath, but if you notice that the same one or two people do it every time, it may be a habit of theirs, rather than a reaction to your breath.

Furthermore, when you are conscious about your breath, you are more apt to notice behaviors in people and assume their negative reactions to your bad breath. That's not always true.

When you gauge your breath, based on other people's behaviors, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. It's impossible to determine how severe your bad breath is, unless you test it for yourself. And - the only way you can make improvement is to track your progress and establish objectives and goals for overcoming your bad breath.