Top tips for Fresh Breath
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Summary
Top tipps for fresh breath
In Short
Certain foods, health conditions and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can make bad breath better by keeping your mouth and teeth clean. In this lesson you will learn everything about bad breath and how to combat it.
Where does bad breath start?
Most bad breath starts in your mouth, be it due to poor oral hygiene, bad habits, medical conditions or what you consume.
As per usual, bacteria are the main culprits. Bacteria per se are odourless, but as they find nutrients on your teeth and tongue and digest them, they excrete gas. The most common gases created by bacteria are based on sulphur, which humans tend to find unpleasant. Foreign bodies like dentures, braces, aligners and retainers can trap and harbour odour-causing bacteria too if they aren't cleaned regularly.
Food, medications and tobacco
The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can lead to more bacteria and cause a foul odour. Eating certain foods, such as onions, garlic and spices, can also cause bad breath. After digestion, these foods enter your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs and affect your breath a second time. Even certain medications can have this unwanted effect.
Smoking causes unpleasant mouth odour. Tobacco users also are more likely to have gum disease, which is another source of bad breath.
Medical Conditions
Dry mouth: Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that cause bad odours. A condition called dry mouth, or xerostomia, can be a part of bad breath, as you produce less saliva due to certain medical conditions or issues with your salivary glands. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to "morning breath", and gets worse if you sleep with your mouth open. There are also certain medications that have dehydrating side-effects which can lead to dry mouth.
Oral Infections: Surgical wounds after mouth surgery, such as tooth removal, as well as tooth decay, gum disease or mouth sores, can cause bad breath.
Tonsil stones: Small stones that form in the tonsils, called tonsil stones, are covered with bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Postnasal drip: Infections, or constant swelling in the nose, sinuses or throat, can lead to postnasal drip. This is when fluid from your nose runs down the back of your throat and can also cause bad breath.
The DOs and DON’Ts in the battle against bad breath
Don't ... | Instead, Do... |
|---|---|
| … brush your teeth irregularly. This only gives the bacteria in your mouth more time to form biofilm, which in turn allows them to produce more gases. It’s a vicious cycle. | … brush your teeth twice a day until they feel smooth when you touch them with your tongue, and clean your interdental spaces once per day. |
| …brush hard and fast Too much pressure while brushing will not remove bacteria better and make teeth cleaner - it can damage your teeth and gums. | …gently clean your teeth and gum line using a toothbrush with soft bristles and small, dense brush head. |
…leave your tongue uncleaned – if you do, white film coating forms on the tongue topside. This film is a mix of bacteria, dead cells, and food debris. | …use tongue scrapers to clean your tongue thoroughly. They wipe the bacteria away. |
… use mouthwash or chewing gum to replace proper brushing. | … use toothpaste when you brush your teeth. You can use chewing gum from time to time on the go – it stimulates your saliva flow. Saliva is your natural ally against bacteria. However, be mindful of chewing gum or mouthwash ingredients! |
Advanced tips
Interdental brushes assist you in reaching the spaces between your teeth, where bacteria and food particles can thrive undisturbed if you lack the tools to get to them.
Change your diet, adapt your lifestyle, drink plenty of water.
Keep a travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and interdental brush in your bag for a quick breath refresh on the go.
In many cases, you can make bad breath better by keeping your mouth and teeth clean. If you can't solve bad breath yourself, see your dentist or another healthcare professional to be sure a more serious condition isn't causing it.
Practice
Unit 1
Top tips for Fresh Breath
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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
Where does bad breath come from?
In most cases from the mouth, for example due to improper oral hygiene, certain foods and medications, or illnesses.
How does poor oral hygiene cause bad breath?
Irregular tooth brushing leads to more bacteria in the mouth. These digest food residues in the mouth and excrete gases, which cause the unpleasant odour.
How can bad breath be combated?
Normally, bad breath can be eliminated by regular dental and oral cleaning with a suitable toothbrush and toothpaste, a tongue scraper and an interdental brush.