What causes bad breath? Here are some tips to make it go away.

Have you ever been stuck talking to someone who’s breath wasn’t overly pleasant or worse, downright stinky? It can be one of those awkward social situations, do you say something or just try and cut the conversation short?

Occasional bad breath

Sometimes bad breath, or halitosis, can be simply because we’ve decided to indulge on a loaf of garlic bread, or we have been in such a rush to get to work that we’ve forgotten to clean our teeth in the morning. Coffee breath is such a bummer!  

It’s no wonder that store shelves are overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes, and other products designed to fight bad breath.  But sadly, most of these products really are just temporary measures.

There are many causes of occasional or an intermittent case of bad breath such as, acid reflux, eating strong smelling foods like garlic and onion, or simply being unwell with a sore throat or respiratory infection. These are part of life and pretty normal if kept in check.

But there is a big difference between these sorts of causes AND having chronic halitosis.

Chronic Halitosis

Chronic halitosis (that is, bad breath on a daily, or very regular basis) is often the result of tooth decay, gum disease or a coated tongue. It’s caused by a build-up of hundreds of bacteria on the tongue, gums, and throat.  They live on the tongue or below the gum-line or in pockets created by gum disease between your gums and teeth.

That type of bacteria doesn’t need light to survive, so it burrows down into the roots and can create real problems. YUK. 🤢

Chronic bad breath will need a trip to the dentist to ascertain the cause.  Leaving any form of gum disease and tooth decay too long may ultimately lead to more serious health problems down the track.  That is something you DON’T want.

Dry mouth

Dry mouth is also a condition that can lead to bad breath. Smoking or certain medications can cause dry mouth, along with some foods, like caffeine and alcohol. 

Dry mouth is caused by slowing saliva production, when there is not enough saliva in the mouth to wash out the bacteria which then results in a build-up of food particles and nasty bacteria that will cause that horrible smell.

That is why brushing and flossing is SO IMPORTANT to manage or eliminate bad breath – to clean out all those pockets in your mouth which can fill with bacteria.  It also helps if you drink plenty of water and swish cool water around your mouth to help to freshen “morning breath.”

Covering up bad breath with a bottle of strong mouth wash will only work in the short term. It will help with the smell briefly but it won’t eliminate the cause of problem. In fact, mouth washes which contain alcohol can sometimes dry out your mouth and make things worse.

If you think your bad breath, or a family member, could be the result of an oral hygiene issue we would highly recommend you drop us a line at Taree Dental Care and book in for an appointment. 

Learning proper dental hygiene is the first and best step to achieving fresh breath. Bad breath can feel embarrassing, but it really doesn’t need to be that way.

Regular dental check-ups and cleans are also very important. ☑️

Call us at the clinic on  (02) 6550 0960. We can book you in with one of our friendly Taree Dentists who will be able to get your mouth back on track to fresh and inviting breath!