I'm sure everyone can think of someone they know with bad breath. Interacting with someone with offensive breath, can literally take your breath away. The Irony! The truth is, bad breath or halitosis can happen to anyone.
In the UK, It is estimated that one in four people suffer with halitosis on a regular basis. In the USA it is estimated to affect that over 50 million people. It can have unpleasant effects and essentially can be a social WMD (weapon of mass destruction) in your workplace, in your love life, relationships, and in general day to day life.
Tobacco use, snoring or even taking oral contraception, can all contribute to Halitosis. Sometimes bad breath can even be a sign of an underlying medical or dental condition. The good news-—halitosis can be prevented and treated!
How can I tell if I have breath ?
It is usually very tricky to work out how bad your breath does or does not smell. An easy indicator is to lick the back of your wrist then immediately smell it. Another test is to use some floss in between your back teeth, then smell the floss. On your tongue, there are projections or taste buds which harbour bacteria. Specific bacteria produce volatile sulphur compounds which has a distinctive smell. Using a piece of gauze, gently rub the surface of your tongue and then, smell the gauze.
If you have tried all of the above and the smell is offensive to you, chances are your breath may smell.
What causes bad breath?
Food
Strongly flavoured foods with spices, onions, garlic and even coffee can exacerbate bad breath, as these foods are high in sulphur compounds. Eating sugary foods has also been linked to bad breath.
Poor Dental Hygiene
If you don’t floss and brush on a daily basis, food particles can get trapped in between your teeth and under your gums. Persistent bad breath is caused by bacteria coating the tongue, teeth or gums and food getting trapped in between teeth.
Smoking
Tobacco smoking increases your chance of developing gum disease. Bad breath caused by gum disease also has a unique smell. This is due to the specific type of bacteria that is found under your gums.
Medical Conditions
Tonsillitis, sinus problems, respiratory tract infections like pneumonia or bronchitis, asthma, acid reflux disease and oral conditions like mouth infections, gum disease and dental decay can all cause bad breath.
Dry Mouth
Saliva in your mouth keeps your mouth hydrated but it also has a cleansing effect which mechanically moves particles that cause bad breath. People who breathe through their mouth, or snore when they sleep can suffer from a dryer mouth on waking. This can cause morning breath. In addition, a dry mouth may prevent clearance of harmful bacteria, causing a sulfuric odor.
Medications
Certain medications can be broken down in the body to release chemicals that cause bad breath. They can also cause a dryer mouth as a side effect. Commonly prescribed medications that treat; depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, obesity, nasal congestion, acne and epilepsy can all contribute to a dry mouth. As well as; hypertension, asthma and Parkinson's disease.
Fasting or Dieting
Skipping meals can also affect the salivary flow rate which again can cause bacteria to accumulate.
So, how can I prevent bad breath?
Diet
Avoid regularly eating strongly flavoured foods like garlic and onions which contain sulphur compounds.
After eating garlic, try chewing on parsley, celery or even apples. These food contain certain enzymes which can help oxidise the sulphides in garlic.
It is also worth remembering that refined and processed sugar feed and encourage the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath—try to keep these to a minimum. Chewing fennel Seeds, which are antimocrobial, can neutralise odors.
Drinking green tea and black tea has also been scientifically proven to eliminate the effects of bad breath. Green tea is very high in antioxidants called polyphenols. Theses polyphenols can help cover up the odor-causing chemicals in garlic.
Water
Water helps in washing away harmful bacteria on your teeth. Aim to consume enough water throughout the day which not only prevent dehydration but will also keep your oral cavity well-lubricated. Chewing gum for 20 minutes immediately after meals can stimulate a healthy salivary flow rate and ensure your mouth is kept clean.
Tip: Be sure that you chew sugar-free gum, but also be careful not to use chewing gum as a means to mask existing bad breath.
Oral Hygiene
Brush teeth and gums for 2 ½ mins with a fluoride toothpaste, and remember to regularly change your toothbrush, every 300 uses.
Try to avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes because these can make the mouth dry; concealling odours instead of killing bacteria. Using a battery operated or electric toothbrush can sometimes clean teeth more effectively than a manual toothbrush.
Using floss or interdental brushes at least once a day, helps to control bad breath by removing the plaque from in between the teeth.
Tongue Cleaning
Millions of microorganisms can survive and multiply on the tongue. Investing in a good-quality tongue scraper or using the tongue cleaner at the back of your manual toothbrush head brush is like an exfoliator. This reduces amounts of bacteria in your mouth. The whole of your tongue should be cleaned- the back and the sides included. Tongue cleaning has also been proven to enhance taste.
See your Dentist
Ask your dentist for her/his opinion. Regular dental checks and maintenance cleaning is recommended if your breath is as a result of gum disease. Scheduling a session to deep clean under your gums would reduce the amount of bacteria and plaque in the mouth and less bacteria means less odour. If your dentist cannot find the cause of your bad breath it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition which should be investigated by your doctor.
What to do if you think you have bad breath?
If you are worried that you may suffer from bad breath, sometimes it can be uncomfortable to ask a partner, friend or family member. Masking it with chewing gum, mouthwash or even breath mints may not be an ideal long term solution.
The most important step is to be evaluated by your dentist who is best equipped to provide you with solutions.
That's all for now!