Bad breath plagues many Americans today. Manufacturers have created millions of products to help cure the epidemic. There are many over-the-counter products that work effectively battling bad breath, but many others that do nothing but mask the real problem.

Probably the most popular over-the-counter product for bad breath is mouthwash. There are two factors a mouthwash must contain in order to combat bad breath effectively. The first is the antibacterial property. To be highly effective, the mouthwash must be able to rid of sulfur compound producing bacteria. This sulfur compound is what makes bad breath stink. The second factor is the power of the mouthwash to neutralize the sulfur compounds already produced. This way, not only are you ridding your mouth of sulfur causing bacteria, but also neutralizing the smells already formed in your mouth. It is important when purchasing over-the-counter mouthwash that both of these components are met.

Another over-the-counter bad breath product is a tongue scraper. Much of the time odor-forming-bacteria lives and grows on the very back of our tongue. No matter how many times we brush our teeth, the bad breath smell will not go away without the elimination of this tongue bacteria. Tongue scrapers have been created to get rid of this bacteria in the most efficient way possible. Many times, when people use a tooth brush to clean the back of their tongue, they get a gag reflex. The tongue scraper cuts down on this reflex and allows for a much deeper clean.

Post nasal drip is another condition shown to cause bad breath. This is due to mucus build up and bacteria growth in that mucus. To neutralize the odor of post nasal drip, an over-the-counter nasal sinus drop product could help. This will not really eliminate the drip, but neutralize the odor that causes bad breath.

There are several other products on the market that are not intended to get rid of odor-causing bacteria, but to mask the smell. These over the counter products include breath sprays, breath drops, mints, and gums. These bad breath products can mask odor for one to four hours, depending on the product.

If you have a bad breath problem, manufacturers have an answer for you. There are several over-the-counter bad breath treatments available to the public for use. What ever your preference, there is a bad breath product on the market for you.