Published in September 2019. 

Think your Breath is Bad? Ask Your Dentist About It!

We’ve all been conscious of bad breath at one point in our lives. Mints and mini mouthwash bottles have always been hot sellers, but have you ever felt like you’re fighting a losing battle? 

Picture this: You’re feeling fresh, your outfit is on-point and your hair is styled to the nines. You’ve thought of everything. Or did you??

Also known as halitosis, bad breath can be caused by a number of things. The best way to combat bad breath is to get to the root of the problem–no matter how embarrassing it may start out. There are three prevalent causes of bad breath: poor oral hygiene, diet, and dry mouth. The good news here is that bad breath is entirely preventable. 

Oral Hygiene 

Poor oral hygiene may not be intentional but it is one of the main causes of halitosis. Regular brushing of teeth–ideally after each meal, but realistically twice a day–can make a world of difference. Brushing your teeth ensures that you minimize the build-up of plaque and bacteria and rids the mouth of food particles. And you’ll feel the difference.

So let’s say you are brushing twice a day, but still, you get looks when you talk. Here’s a helpful tip for you. People tend to focus on their teeth when brushing and miss the tongue and the upper mouth area. Bacteria that cause bad breath can grow in these areas too, so active brushing these areas regularly can prevent bad breath, and other oral issues, from worsening. 

Dry Mouth

This may sound harmless, but it is a well-known culprit of bad breath. Dry mouth generally happens when the body minimizes the production of saliva (xerostomia). Ironically, dry mouth can be set off by fluids like coffee and alcohol. It is quite common for saliva production to slacken during the night, causing the famous struggle of morning breath, but poor hydration can also be a culprit. 

Saliva plays a key role in washing down bacteria and particle build-up in your mouth, so reduce your consumption of drinks like coffee and alcohol and drink more clear fluids to prevent dry mouth.

Diet

While the obvious problem lies in flavourful foods rich with garlic and onions, certain types of diets can also cause problems. 

Low carb and high protein diets have a varying effect on your body. Low carb diets change your body’s metabolism and in some cases, your body will release sulphurous gasses as it metabolizes the proteins in low carb diets.