Having bad breath can be a problem that affects everyone at some point or another, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t embarrassing and can cause anxiety for the person suffering with it.
There are many products out there to mask bad breath, such as mints, chewing gum and mouth sprays, but these often don’t solve the issue. Let’s take a look at some reasons why you may be experiencing bad breath and ways that you can solve it and get fresh, clean breath back quickly.
Certain foods
We’ve all experienced some unpleasant breath following a meal at some time, with the main culprits being onions, garlic and spicy foods. After you eat these, the breakdown of the particles around your teeth, and the digestion of these in your body can cause an odour to remain.
The best way to help shake this is by brushing your teeth, giving your body time to fully digest your meal, or avoiding the foods you know will trigger bad breath. Cleaning your tongue with special tongue scrapers or brushes can help speed up the process.
Oral health issues
Poor dental hygiene, and oral health issues such as gum disease, cavities and infection cause a nasty odour that you can’t shift. If you don’t have a good tooth brushing regime, a sticky film of bacteria, called plaque forms on your teeth.
This can eventually cause gum disease and infection, which smells unpleasant and will remain until the plaque is removed and the infection is treated. Some ways to help alongside treatment from your dentist are antibacterial mouthwash and toothpaste, which are available from your pharmacist.
Medical conditions
Other health conditions such as tonsillitis and acid reflux can also cause bad breath. The bacteria and excess stomach acid caused by these ailments produce an odour, and can also cause something called a postnasal drip, which causes bad breath also. The health condition itself needs to be treated to remove the bad breath.
Smoking
Smoking tobacco is one of the most common causes of bad breath. The smoke smell lingers within the mouth and can hinder your saliva production which can produce an odd odour. Smoking also increases the risk of oral health issues, which in term cause their own odours to emerge.
Quitting, as well as helping to budge bad breath, will have a huge positive impact on your overall health, but if you can’t manage to quit completely, try to cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke, and up your teeth cleaning regime with specifically designed products, targeting smokers.
Any bad breath that can’t be improved with a good brush and floss is a bad sign and should always be investigated by your dentist. Bad breath is often the first sign of serious issues such as gum disease or cavities – essentially rotting teeth matter – which are problems that can spiral out of control if not caught and treated early.
Our dentists are friendly and understanding – so if you are suffering with bad breath please get in touch with your local Oradent Dental Care practice today. We can have you on your way to minty fresh breath and improved confidence in no time.
