How To Tackle Bad Breath For Good

Bad breath happens to all of us. It even has a scientific name: halitosis. Bad breath occurs when bacteria breed on the tongue, teeth and in the oral cavity. When bacteria in our mouth break down the proteins in our food it creates a sort of sulfuric type of odor.

But for some people, bad breath is more than just a periodic nuisance that strikes first thing in the morning or after a garlicky meal. It may be a constant source of embarrassment or distress. In rare cases, it may even signal a brewing health condition.

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There are plenty of reasons why you might be suffering from bad breath, but the most common causes include:

• Dry mouth: When your mouth dries out, bacteria hang out in the crooks and crevices of the tongue and oral cavity, increasing the likelihood of foul odors. In fact, dry mouth is one of the key culprits behind morning breath. The salivary glands that keep your mouth moist are less active overnight. The best defense: Brush and floss your teeth before bed.
• Food: Onions, garlic, kale, broccoli, legumes and other foods that produce increased gases can linger in your mouth for hours after you’ve eaten.
• Bacteria: Hundreds of species of bad breath-causing bacteria live inside your mouth. Your mouth also acts as a sort of breeding ground for bacteria to grow and flourish.
• Medication: Prescription and over-the-counter medications, including decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics and drugs that treat depression and high blood pressure can be problematic. Many of these drugs produce dry mouth as a side effect.
• Medical conditions: A variety of health conditions can cause bad breath, especially those that affect the mouth and gut (gum disease, tonsillitis, sinusitis and acid reflux). Other conditions such as a lung infection or abscess and diseases that affect the liver or kidneys can also cause bad breath. You may even be suffering from a condition called pseudo-halitosis, where you think you have bad breath, even though your breath smells fine.

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Foods to avoid

There is no getting away from the fact that certain foods make the breath smell pretty  bad. The best known of these is, of course, garlic. While it isn’t the only culprit a number of foods can cause temporary bad breath. The following are some of the worst culprits:

• Garlic
• Onions
• Coffee
• Alcoholic drinks
• Cigarettes and other tobacco products that are smoked
• Tinned fish
• Curries and other spicy food

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This is not a complete list of course but it might be wise to avoid too much of these when heading out to a social function.

So how do you reduce or prevent bad breath?

• Brush your teeth after you eat. Keep a toothbrush at work to use after eating. Brush using a fluoride-containing toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after meals. Toothpaste with antibacterial properties has been shown to reduce bad breath odors.
• Floss at least once a day. Proper flossing removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth, helping to control bad breath.
• Brush your tongue. Your tongue harbors bacteria, so carefully brushing it may reduce odors. People who have a coated tongue from a significant overgrowth of bacteria (from smoking or dry mouth, for example) may benefit from using a tongue scraper. Or use a toothbrush that has a built-in tongue cleaner.
• Clean dentures or dental appliances. If you wear a bridge or a denture, clean it thoroughly at least once a day or as directed by your dentist in Camberwell. If you have a dental retainer or mouth guard, clean it each time before you put it in your mouth. Your dentist  in Deepdene can recommend the best cleaning product.
• Avoid dry mouth. To keep your mouth moist, avoid tobacco and drink plenty of water — not coffee, soft drinks or alcohol, which can lead to a drier mouth. Chew gum or suck on candy (preferably sugarless) to stimulate saliva. For chronic dry mouth, your dentist  in Hawthorn or physician may prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or an oral medication that stimulates the flow of saliva.
• Adjust your diet. Avoid foods such as onions and garlic that can cause bad breath. Eating a lot of sugary foods is also linked with bad breath.
• Regularly get a new toothbrush. Change your toothbrush when it becomes frayed, about every three to four months, and choose a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Schedule regular dental checkups. See your dentist in Balwyn on a regular basis — generally twice a year — to have your teeth or dentures examined and cleaned.

Our clinic is conveniently located close to Kew, Mont Albert, Surrey Hills, Hawthorn, Deepdene and Camberwell. Please feel free to contact our caring dentists on 03) 9817 7144 for any of your dental needs.