Bad Breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, is an embarrassing condition when an unpleasant smell is noticed while speaking. It may be temporary after eating strong-smelling foods like onion and garlic and can be easily controlled by chewing gum or gargling with mouthwash.

Serious bad breath is when it is not transient and is always noticed. This condition usually indicates an underlying dental or medical condition that needs professional assistance.

Sometimes you do not notice your bad breath, but it is very evident to the people around you, which can negatively affect social communication and self-esteem.

Visit Dulwich Dental Office, the number 1 dental clinic in London providing professional solutions to enjoy fresh confident breath.

Causes Of Bad Breath

Bad breath can be transient after consuming strong-smelling food, such as onion, garlic, and smoking. Bad breath that persists may be caused by oral or non-oral causes (systemic condition). A thorough consultation with our experts is necessary to determine the cause behind bad breath. The causes of bad breath include:

1. Poor oral hygiene: When you neglect daily brushing and flossing, bacteria become very active, fermenting the remaining food particles and forming plaque. The high bacterial activity eventually leads to tooth decay and gum inflammation. A decayed tooth provides an area for food accumulation which can cause bad breath and bad taste.
2. Gingival diseases: Inflammation of the gingival tissues is characterised by gum swelling and bleeding. Gingival bleeding causes a bad odour and taste due to the disintegration of the blood in your mouth.
3. Dry mouth: A dry mouth causes a loss of the washing effect of saliva, leading to bad breath. Dry mouth can be caused due to an autoimmune disease (Sjogren’s Syndrome), salivary gland inflammation, or stones.
4. Diabetes: Uncontrolled diabetes causes an increase in the blood sugar level, which may lead to a bad odour (ketone smell).
5. Infections: An infection in your nose, throat, tonsils, or lungs may cause bad breath.
6. Liver and kidney diseases: The accumulation of toxins in your body due to impaired renal or kidney functions may cause bad breath.
7. Smoking: Smoking is known to cause unpleasant breath and can cause gum inflammation, increasing bad breath.
8. Gastroesophageal reflux: The regurgitation of the gastric acids in your throat and mouth can cause an unpleasant mouth smell.
9. Medications: Some medications cause bad breath by causing a dry mouth or disintegrating into bad-smelling particles.

Treatment of Bad Breath

The management of a bad breath depends on the cause. The treatment may involve an intervention in addition to prescribing refreshing mouthwashes. The treatment may involve:

1. A professional teeth cleaning visit to remove plaque and calculus that may be causing bad breath.in addition to providing professional oral hygiene tips
2. Filling of any existing decay.
3. Management of gingival inflammation if existing.
4. Management of any condition that may affect salivary gland function, such as removal of stones and prescribing some medications that may help increase salivary production.

A referral to your healthcare provider is necessary to handle any healthcare issue causing bad breath such as controlling your blood sugar level, treating acid reflux from your stomach, or treating nose or throat infections.

Tips to Prevent Bad Breath

• Brush your teeth at least twice daily using a suitable toothbrush for around two minutes. Follow the correct brushing technique advised by our dental experts.
• Floss at least once daily.
• Gently clean your tongue using a tongue scraper to remove bacterial colonisation at the back of the tongue.
• Follow the special care tips during cleaning any existing dental restoration such as below the bridges or around orthodontic appliances.
• Schedule regular hygiene visits to professionally clean your teeth and remove plaque.
• Quit smoking.
• Maintain a healthy diet and minimise your sugar intake.
• Keep your mouth moist and drink plenty of water.
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months.

Natural Remedies to Freshen Your Breath

When bad breath is caused by an increased bacterial activity such as during gum inflammation, natural remedies may be effective to decrease the bacterial activity. Fresh breath natural remedies include:

• Clove: Clove oil is widely used in various dental materials. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal effects, and can help reduce toothache and bad breath. If you have bad breath, try chewing on cloves, however, do not use them excessively as it may cause gingival irritation with overuse.

• Green tea: Green tea is a natural antioxidant and has an antibacterial effect. Drinking one cup of green tea daily can help reduce bad breath.

• Parsley: Parsley has a pleasant odour and chlorophyll which both make it effective to fight bad breath when you chew on.

• Yoghurt: Yoghurt contains lactobacilli bacteria which is highly effective in fighting bad breath. One yoghurt serving per day can help reduce bad breath.

• Milk: It was found that drinking a cup of milk after a strong-smelling food, such as onion and garlic is highly effective in managing bad breath.

When to see a doctor about bad breath

You should seek professional help regarding your bad breath if:

• It persists most of the day and is not transient after strong-smelling food consumption or after waking up.
• You perform regular oral hygiene and still have bad breath.
• Natural remedies cannot control bad breath.

In these cases, bad breath will need a thorough examination to identify and solve the reason. Do not neglect bad breath as it may also point to serious medical conditions, such as glucose level elevation in blood or kidney problems.

Consult London’s top experts at Dulwich Dental Office to enjoy a fresh confident breath. Book online 24/7 or call us on 02086933339