What causes bad breath? Also known as halitosis, it can impact your life more severely than you’d think. It can make conversation unpleasant, ruin the taste of your food, and it can cause problems in relationships and friendships. So what do you do if your breath stinks? Read one and learn more about Halitosis and how you can fix it!
Living with Halitosis – What to do
If you have chronic bad breath we diagnose that as halitosis. ‘Normal’ bad breath (e.g. morning breath) will go away if you exercise a regular brushing and flossing regime.
If you’re dealing with a bad breath that doesn’t go away after brushing and flossing, then it’s time to call in the dentist. It can be difficult to smell the bad breath yourself, so call in someone you trust if you’re not sure about self-diagnosing! 2.5% of the population are diagnosed with halitosis – so it’s important to see if the bad breath stems from a bigger health problem. If you suspect these issues, please contact your dentist.
Here are some Halitosis Symptoms to look out for:
- Constant bad breath
- Plaque buildup
- Post-nasal drip, or mucous
- Thick saliva and a bad taste in your mouth.
- Dry mouth / ‘burning’ tongue
What causes bad breath – Halitosis?
Poor dental hygiene is the main cause of halitosis – with good hygiene habits and regular dental check-ups you’ll generally be able to maintaining a healthy mouth and avoid bad breath. If you don’t clean your teeth, dentures or braces properly (i.e. for at least 3 minutes, on different angles, twice a day, and daily flossing) this can be another reason halitosis develops in a patient.
Lastly, gum disease and cavities can also lead to halitosis. The short of it is that if you have a clean mouth and practise good habits with cleaning and flossing, you will be able to overcome this nasty issue and regain confidence in yourself.
Your Diet and Your Breath
Some parts of your diet can cause halitosis and other issuues like acid reflux (another cause of bad breath). Some things to look out for are coffee, garlic, onions, strong curry, fish, acidic beverages and alcohol.
Limit these foods and try things like apples, spinach, probiotic yoghurt and plenty of water – this can help the problem.
Smoking is also a big no-no – this can play havoc with your teeth, so bin the butt and give our team a call if we can help.
Book an appointment with one of our fantastic dentists today by clicking here or give us a call on 07 5427 0880 and we’d be happy to help!
