Ok so at some point in your life it’s likely that you have suffered from bad breath, for the majority it can be a simple case of morning breath and easily cured. But what about if bad breath is a frequent problem? Bad breath can seem like minor issue however if it stops you from speaking confidently, makes you keep people at arm’s length, then it can make you feel bad about yourself turning into a problem that affects you everyday of your life.
Here we look into bad breath in more detail, what causes it, what factors affect or contribute towards it and what can you do to cure and prevent it.
How can you tell if you have bad breath?
You might be familiar with the bad breath test, simply licking the back of your hand and having a good old sniff is the most socially acceptable way.
Or you could ask a friend or family member to give you some honest advice.
If you notice people turning the cheek when they kiss you or stepping back when you talk it could be a sign that you have bad breath.
What are the causes of bad breath?
Firstly as we started at the start bad breath is likely to affect us all at some point in our lives and it is a very common problem.
There are many causes of bad breath and it’s important to understand the different causes.
The most common causes of bad breath are:
- Persistent bad breath is usually caused by the smelly gases released by the bacteria that coat your teeth, gums and tongue. Usually this happens when you aren’t cleaning your mouth effectively.
- Food that gets trapped between the teeth and on the tongue will rot and can cause an unpleasant smell. Strong foods and drinks such as coffee and garlic and onions can cause or add to the problem of bad breath.
- Lifestyle choices i.e. smoking will cause bad breath not to mention the other health issues.
- Gum disease, over time not taking proper care of your mouth could lead to gum disease. It’s important to get a proper assessment form your dentist.
So taking care of your dental hygiene is clearly very important in the battle against bad breath to brush your teeth correctly and regularly. This will help keep your breath smelling fresh.
The bacteria on our teeth and gums (called ‘plaque’) also cause gum disease and tooth decay. One of the warning signs of gum disease is that you always have bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth. Again, your dental team will be able to see and treat the problem during your regular check-ups. The earlier the problems are found, the more effective the treatment will be.
Other causes of bad breath aren’t so common but perhaps your bad breath could be the caused by a medical condition.
Xerostomi or as it’s commonly know “dry mouth’ is a condition that means your mouth produces less saliva. This causes bacteria to build up in your mouth and this leads to bad breath. Dry mouth may be caused by some medicines, by salivary gland problems or by continually breathing through your mouth instead of your nose. Older people may produce less saliva, causing further problems.
Other medical conditions that cause bad breath include infections in the throat, nose or lungs; sinusitis; bronchitis; diabetes; or liver or kidney problems. If your dentist finds that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family GP or a specialist to find out the cause of your bad breath.
If you suffer from dry mouth, your dental team may be able to recommend or prescribe an artificial saliva product. Or they may be able to suggest other ways of dealing with the problem.
How can we help?
We monitor at your regular dental health checks for any areas where plaque or food is caught between your teeth.
If you have bad breath, you will need to start a routine for keeping your mouth clean and fresh and we will show you the best way to clean your teeth and gums and generally keep your mouth healthy.
Whilst soft plaque can be removed at easily at home with a good dental routine, it is common to require additional cleaning twice a year to remove hard plaque deposits known as calculus or tartar. This will ensure that your breath stays feeling fresh and your dentist will advise any tricky areas to concentrate your cleaning on that you may be missing during your home care routine.
Preventing bad breath
To keep your breath fresh you must get rid of any gum disease and keep your mouth clean and healthy, this will help you keep nice, fresh breath.
If after this you feel that bad breath is still a problem then try keeping a food diary of everything you consume including drinks and note any days you feel you suffered from bad breath. This can you to identify any links or alternatively bring it into your dentist and they may be able to make some suggestions that will solve your problem.
Brush your teeth and gums last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste. Don’t forget to brush your tongue as well, or use a tongue scraper. Cut down on how often you have sugary food and drinks.
The perfect routine:
Visit us as often as we recommend. The frequency that you visit us here at the dental practice varies significantly from person to person. Some people may need to come and see us at the dentist every 3 months, others 6 months and some once a year.
Clean in between your teeth with floss or interdental cleaning aid such as interdental brushes at least once a day before brushing your teeth. In-between your teeth accounts for a 1/3 of your teeth surfaces not doing so is equal to not brushing for 2 days a week!
Brush all teeth as recommended by your dentist.
Use a mouthwash – some contain antibacterial agents that could kill bacteria that make your breath smell unpleasant.
If you continue to suffer from bad breath come and visit us to make sure that there isn’t a more serious underlying problem.