I Have A Bad Breath: What Do I Do?

Nearly 99% of the American population has ‘dragon breath’ in the morning while around 0% of the population have to deal with it more often. Bad breath or halitosis is a common condition occurring in 1 in 4 people around the world. It can be quite tough on the people around you and a cause for embarrassment. Most people don’t realise that they have bad breath as no one can tell their own breath.

However, one good way to check if your breath smells bad is to do the sniff test. Lick your wrist with the back of your tongue and let it dry for a while and then smell it. If it smells bad, then it is an indication that your breath does too.

Causes of Bad Breath

The Academy of General Dentistry, in more than 90% of the people, bad breath is due to bad oral hygiene and originates from your mouth, throat or tonsils.

It is caused by a group of sulphur-producing bacteria that occur naturally in the back of your mouth, beneath your tongue and the tonsils. They break down proteins and assist in digestion and in the process release sulphur compounds that cause the bad smell. The main causes of bad breath are below.

• Dry mouth
• Foods that contain compounds like onion and garlic
• Bad dental hygiene
• In 10% of the cases, an illness in the gastrointestinal tract or your digestive system

How to deal with bad breath

Bad breath is more common in people who do not practice good dental hygiene. To keep bad breath at bay you need to:

• Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once. Use a good anti-bacterial mouthwash.
• Drink plenty of water after your meal as water helps wash away food particles in your mouth and the harmful bacteria. The best thing would be to brush your teeth after meals, but if you can’t do that, at least rinse your mouth thoroughly.
• Try to avoid sugary drinks and cut down on alcohol and smoking or use of other tobacco products
• Try to cut down on coffee as it is a tough smell to get rid off
• Chew sugarless gum after meals

When do I need to seek medical attention?

Even after trying all the above remedies, if your bad breath still persists, it could be an indicator of a bigger problem. Sometimes it could be a sign of a gum disease while some other times it could be the result of an illness or some kind of medication. If it is because of a problem with your digestive system because of diseases like GERD, you may need to consult a general physician. Your doctor will suggest corrective measures.

Bad breath can be embarrassing and awkward. If you can’t find solution, then instead of trying to hide it, it is best to see a dentist you can actually provide you a solution.