There’s no doubt that bad breath can be an embarrassing problem for those who suffer from it.
Think chewing a pack of gum or popping a mint will remedy this situation? It might for a short while, but there’s a bunch of reasons (mostly harmless) and a bunch of solutions for bad breath (or halitosis, if we want to get scientific).
You may have just eaten a delicious stir-fry doused in chili and garlic for lunch or you may be a smoker.
This type of bad breath is an inconvenience, but at least we know instantly what’s at fault. Having a cold will have an impact on your breath and even some medications can keep your mouth from being minty fresh!
However there are of course more serious reasons for bad breath, which include gum disease, tooth decay and digestive problems.
If you think your bad breath may be due to any of these, visit your dentist, who can then determine what path to take to get fresher healthier breath.
This could range from periodontal care to fillings and crowns. Generally however bad breath is the result of poor oral hygiene, resulting in dental plaque, food debris build up and development of gingivitis.
For everyday fresh breath here are our top tips:
- Practice good oral care daily. This means brushing twice daily and flossing too. This is the key to maintaining a healthy mouth.
- Do you have a dry mouth? Keeping it moist might help. Drinking water will help flush away food and bacteria. Remember experts recommend 8 glasses of water per day.
- Clean your tongue. Just like your teeth, your tongue needs regular maintenance too. Your tongue is responsible for harbouring most of the bacterial that causes bad breath in your month.
- Do you smoke? Perhaps it’s time to seek help to ditch the habit. It’s not only awful for your teeth but also for your gums and breath (not to mention general health and well-being).
- Love spicy food but your post meal breath not so much? Munch on some parsley after your meal. Parsley is a natural breath freshener and contains chlorophyll to fight bad breath and neutralize internal body odours. Parsley is also rich in calcium and fluorine, which helps to strengthen tooth enamel.
- A short note on mouthwash. One misconception is that a bottle of mouthwash will remedy your breath. But different mouthwashes have different purposes. Also, a mouthwash will make no difference to your breath if there’s an underlying issue. Leave it up to your dentist to determine if your mouth will benefit from one or not!
We always recommend that you visit your dentist to diagnose any dental problems so they can advise any future treatment and you can have a healthy smile.