Have you ever been stuck talking to someone who’s breath smelt like the bottom of a bird cage?
The person with the bad breath often doesn’t realise it – so do you say something or just try and cut the conversation short? Awkward!
Sometimes bad breath, or halitosis, can be simply because we’ve decided to indulge in a slice 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. Arrrgh, coffee breath!
Occasional bad breath is unavoidable and ‘morning breath’ is totally normal because your saliva slows down when you sleep. 💤
But there are certainly some things you can do every day to keep bad breath at bay:
Brush your teeth twice a day (and don’t forget your tongue!)
Floss once a day
Keep dentures & other oral appliances clean
Stop smoking
Eat a healthy diet including a variety of foods and enough calories
Rinse after having odorous foods like coffee, garlic, and onions
Drink plenty of water and swish cool water around your mouth to help freshen “morning breath.’
There are many causes of occasional or an intermittent case of bad breath – acid reflux, or simply being unwell with a sore throat or respiratory infection.
These are part of life and pretty normal if kept in check.
At Timeless Smiles Dental we strongly recommend adding a tongue cleaner to your daily oral hygiene routine. You can purchase one from us during your next visit or simply ask Renee, our Oral Health Therapist, at your next checkup and clean!
Chronic halitosis is bad news – and is usually the result of tooth decay, gum disease or a coated tongue. It is essentially an imbalance of bacteria in your mouth.
This type of bacteria doesn’t need light to survive, and it burrows down into the roots and can create real (and smelly) problems.
Store shelves are also overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes, and other products designed to fight bad breath. But remember most of these products are just temporary measures that mask the problem, not fix it.
Chronic bad breath really needs a trip to the dentist to ascertain the cause. ✅
Leaving any form of gum disease or tooth decay too long can lead to more serious health problems down the track. And that is something you DON’T want.
Here are some Dental Implants related FAQs.
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 slow saliva production. When there is not enough saliva in the mouth to wash out bacteria, a build-up of food particles and nasty bacteria that will ultimately cause that horrible sulphur-like smell.😨
That’s why brushing and flossing is SO IMPORTANT to manage or eliminate bad breath – you have to physically remove the bacteria to get rid of the smell.
Covering up bad breath with a bottle of strong mouth wash will only work in the short term and it won’t eliminate the cause of problem. Some mouth washes which contain alcohol can dry out your mouth and actually make things worse.
If you think you suffer bad breath, or you know a family member who does, we strongly recommend you call us at the clinic on 📞 (02) 8073 8386 or head to our website to make an appointment with us and we will help you find fresh minty breath.
Bad breath can be embarrassing, but it really doesn’t need to be that way.😃
