Barry Bids Bad Breath Bye-Bye!

by Shelley White

Barry had a lot of friends
He was a cheerful lad
But recently they'd played it cool
Because his breath smelt bad.

Previously he was top dog
The leader of the pack
Now when he says 'Hi you guys!'
They all take two steps back!

So Barry asked his father Bill
'What's wrong dad? Please do tell!'
'Your problem's halitosis, son:
Your breath has got a smell.'

'The smell is caused by chemicals
For example hydrogen sulphide
Methyl mercaptan, putrescine too,
The variety's quite wide.

'Germs can multiply in your mouth -
Have you brushed your teeth clean?
Bad breath will soon develop
If plaque is on the scene.

'Dentists say that bad breath's cause
Is usually gum disease
On brushing teeth do your gums bleed?
Then your breath could smell of cheese!

'Ask your dentist for a check-up
Request a polish and a scale
Brush your teeth properly
Twice a day without fail.

'This should help remove the plaque
More so if you floss
Use a toothpick after meals
Show bad breath who's the boss

'Anything that dries the mouth
Will make your bad breath worse
Fasting or heavy exercise -
Their effects can be diverse.

'Don't skip meals, eat regularly
To keep the saliva flowing
Always eat a breakfast
Or bacteria could start growing.

'Stagnant saliva building up
Food particles that stick
Cause bacteria to breed on the tongue
So try to get rid of it quick.

'Buy a scraper to clean your tongue
And try to reach the back
Or brush it with a soft toothbrush
You'll soon get the knack.

'You could always use a mouthwash
Or a deodorising mouth spray
To mask bad smells from time to time
Keep garlic kisses at bay!

'Antibacterial chemicals in them
Help onion breath smell fresh
Just gargle, then spit out -
Before bedtime is best.

'Fruit will help to clean your mouth -
The ideal one is pineapple
Drink black tea, chew sugar-free gum
With bad breath you won't grapple.'

So Barry's bid bad breath bye-bye
By taking Bill's advice
His halitosis has the brush-off
Now Barry's breath smells nice!