Learn More About Bad Breath

Several reasons or conditions can be the root cause of bad breath. This may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Food.
  Eating certain foods can lead to bad breath, as the breakdown and digestion of food particles can increase bacteria and create a foul odour. Foods such as onions, garlic, and spices have been known to stay in the bloodstream and linger on the tongue much longer.
  
  
• Poor dental hygiene.
  Neglecting to brush or floss your teeth can allow food particles to remain in the mouth, leading to plaque buildup on your teeth. This colourless, sticky film can turn into tartar, creating a bad-smelling odour. Poor dental hygiene also encourages bacteria buildup on the tongue, resulting in unpleasant odours.
  
  
• Decreased saliva production.
  A dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, can cause bad breath due to decreased saliva production. Saliva is important for cleansing the mouth and removing particles that leave odours. So, when saliva levels are inadequate, these particles remain in the mouth and bad breath results.
  
  
• Oral infections.
  Existing infections in the mouth can be a contributing factor to bad breath. This can develop from surgical wounds like after tooth extraction or oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
  
  
• Mouth, nose, and throat conditions.
  Another possible cause of bad breath is due to mouth, nose, and throat conditions. The unpleasant smell can come from small stones that form in the tonsils, which are often covered in bacteria that produce an unpleasant smell. Further, infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat can also lead to postnasal drip and cause bad breath.

Bad breath can also be a source of concern that can affect your confidence in social situations. But it can be a health concern too. Addressing such a problem helps you determine what causes it and reduce the possible risks.

There are some home remedies you can do to help mitigate bad breath. However, further treatment may be necessary in some cases, which can vary depending on the cause. If any of the following seems not working, we recommend you consult the dentist.

• Brush your teeth thoroughly after eating.
  It’s important to maintain good hygiene to manage bad breath. This includes brushing your teeth twice daily or especially after eating foods with a strong odour.
  
  
• Floss between teeth daily.
  Flossing is essential for reducing plaque buildup or stuck food dentist between teeth.
  
  
• Brush or scrape the tongue.
  It’s also important to clean your tongue to minimise bacteria buildup.
  
  
• Adjust your diet.
  Avoid food intake that has a strong odour, such as garlic and onions. Also, minimise consuming food that has a high sugar content.
  
  
• Regularly changing your toothbrush.
  Bacteria can accumulate in the toothbrush over time. That’s why changing your toothbrush after three months is necessary.
  
  
• Regular visits to the dentist.
  A regular dental appointment is one of the major parts of oral care. The dentist can perform a dental cleaning to reduce plaque and tartar that remain between your teeth, which is the culprit for bad breath.

The common way to know if you have bad breath is by cupping your hands and smelling your breath. You may also wipe the surface of your tongue and smell it. However, there are other ways to determine the odour of your breath. Visiting a dentist can provide a proper diagnosis and may use diagnostic tools to rate the odour.

It depends on your unique case or severity of bad breath. The dentist may advise you for more frequent dental appointments than average, one to twice dental visits to address the issue. So please speak to the dentist and find out how often they recommend you visit them to manage your chronic bad breath and keep your breath smelling fresh.