Adult
5th Aug 2020

Whether its a bout of morning breath when you first wake up or the lingering smell of a particularly garlic-heavy meal, everyone experiences bad breath every now and again.

Discover the causes behind particularly smelly breath and some tips for how you may prevent it.

What Causes Bad Breath?

While we’d like nothing better than to have minty-fresh breath round the clock – most of the time it’s just not possible. After all, our mouths are brimming with bacteria which live and thrive in its warm, dark environment.

As these bacteria eat and metabolise, their waste gives off unpleasant odours. Which, in turn, gives you the bad breath you may be familiar with.

Some of the common lifestyle factors that may contribute to unpleasant breath include:

Food

Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the main contributors to bad breath is what you put into your mouth.

Certain foods may have more of an impact than others, such as onions, garlic, dairy, meat, and fish. Refined and processed sugars may also leave an impression, as they provide a food source for the bacteria in your mouth.

Coffee and juice might do it as well because their acidic nature provides the ideal conditions for unwanted bacteria to breed.

Poor Dental Hygiene

A good dental hygiene regime is important for helping to remove the build-up of bacteria in your mouth, and helps to support overall oral health.

Ensure you brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly, and visit your dentist’s office for a check-up.

Tips To Help Stop Bad Breath?

It’s important to keep in mind that you can’t get rid of the bacteria in your mouth entirely. It’s all part of your oral flora and has a range of roles to play in supporting the break down of food.

However, you may find the following tips helpful for keeping bad breath at bay. But, if you have any concerns about your oral health, talk to your health professional.

Practice Good Dental Hygiene

Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day (morning and night), then floss and consider using an oral rinse. You should also maintain regular check-ups with your dentist to ensure ongoing oral health.

Reduce Your Intake Of Processed Foods

By limiting how often you eat processed, high-sugar foods such as cookies, ice cream and refined sugars you may avoid giving the bad breath causing bacteria in your mouth the fuel they need to multiply.

Drink Plenty of Water

This will keep your mouth moist and help to wash away any leftover food from your mouth after eating.

Consider a Comprehensive Oral Health Product

There are plenty of oral care products out there on the market that you could try. Mouthwashes can be helpful for banishing the bad breath bacteria that reside in your mouth and throat, and you might find that lozenges can help freshen your breath as well.

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