Bad Breath
If you suffer from bad breath, you may feel embarrassed. However, once you determine the underlying cause, treatment can help reduce it.
What causes bad breath?
There are many possible causes of bad breath including:
Poor dental hygiene – if you don’t have good oral hygiene such as brushing twice daily and flossing, food particles may remain in your mouth causing bad breath.
Food – the breakdown of leftover food particles in your mouth can increase bacteria that can cause a foul smell. Eating particular foods may increase your chance of bad breath including onions, garlic and spices.
Smoking – can cause an unpleasant odour from the tobacco
Dry mouth – saliva helps to cleanse your mouth and remove any leftover particles. Dry mouth reduces the cleansing process and can lead to bad breath. Your chance of dry mouth increases when you sleep, leading to “morning breath”.
Medications – some medications can contribute to dry mouth, which in turn produces bad breath.
Our top tips for overcoming bad breath
Once you have determined the underlying cause of your bad breath, there are a few things that can help improve it for you. These are:
Practice good oral hygiene including brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day.
Mouth rinses may help kill the bacteria that is causing the odour.
Treatment if you have gum (periodontal) disease including seeing our Oral Health Therapist Maviel, or referring you to a periodontist.
Drinking water to help stay hydrated and reduce the chance of dry mouth.
If you would like a consult regarding your bad breath with our dentist or oral health therapist, please give us a call on 84112674 or book an appointment online.
