Bad breath is one of those nuisances that always seems to pop up at the most inconvenient times. The first step to getting rid of bad breath (a.k.a. halitosis)? Understanding the causes of bad breath.
Many say that having bad breath affects their social lives and overall self-confidence. If you find yourself constantly popping breath mints or chewing on mint-flavored gum, halitosis may be affecting you in the same way.
Thankfully, there are simple treatments and solutions to this annoying problem that will have you feeling fresh in no time. But first, you must figure out the root cause of your bad breath.
Here are 12 common causes of bad breath—and smart solutions.
- You have poor oral hygiene:
Poor oral hygiene leads to plaque buildup, and it can calcify over time, leading to calculus, or more commonly known as tartar. This perpetuates the cycle of buildup and can lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease
How to fix it:
Brush, floss, and scrape your tongue in the morning, ideally after breakfast, coffee, et cetera. You can also try timing yourself brushing your teeth to see how long you’re really spending cleansing your mouth and tongue. Then, consider using an electric toothbrush, which often have timers to ensure that you’re scrubbing for at least two minutes, and that you’re reaching *all* surfaces of the teeth.
- You have low saliva flow:
Saliva acts as the mouth’s immune system, by helping keep bacteria levels low. So, if you have low saliva, it can allow bacteria to flourish, which leads to bad breath (amongst other issues like decay, gingivitis, and periodontal disease). Not producing enough saliva is often caused by prescription medications, over-the-counter allergy medicines, as well as chemo/radiation treatments
How to get rid of it:
Drink plenty of water, and use a prescription toothpaste with added calcium or fluoride and/or a dry mouth gel frequently. You can also chew sugar-free gum containing xylitol and pop dry mouth tablets (XyliMelts) to stimulate saliva flow. In more extreme cases, you may want to ask your dentist about prescription pilocarpine, which also helps increase saliva flow.
- You eat an acidic diet:
An acidic diet can cause acid reflux, which is a main cause of bad breath. Symptoms of acid reflux include heartburn, burping, nausea, and having a bitter taste in the mouth
How to get rid of it:
If you deal with acid reflux and also notice bad breath, it’s worth talking to your physician about prescription antacid medicine to minimize the regurgitation of acid into the mouth. You may also want to keep a food log to identify acidic foods that may be causing or worsening reflux and make dietary tweaks accordingly with the help of a professional.
- You aren’t consistent with your professional dental care:
You need to actually get to the dentist regularly to keep your mouth healthy.
Doing so keeps bad breath at bay.
How to get rid of it:
Get a professional cleaning every three to six months to help ensure that your gums and teeth are healthy, with no decay or signs of periodontal disease.
- Your food habits:
Can’t stand your breath after a garlic-filled meal? Makes sense! Eating intense, smelly foods is the obvious cause of bad breath. Some foods naturally have an odor, such as onions, garlic, coffee and spices
How to get rid of it:
Brush after meals to help do away with food particles that can cause stinky breath. Food entrapment can perpetuate the bad breath from these foods. Brushing, flossing, and brushing your tongue may help reduce these naturally occurring odors after eating
- You ear a diet high in sugar:
When you go overboard on the sugary treats and foods, you’re giving bacteria in your mouth the ability to thrive. Bacteria feeds off of sugar, like from candy and soda, and when there’s a surplus of bacteria overgrowth, it can lead to bad breath.
How to get rid of it:
Lay off the sweets and soda if you can, or switch to sugar-free candy and diet soda if you can’t kick either habit. When you have sugar, it’s also wise to swish with water or brush afterward, to minimize the concentration of sugar in the mouth and on the teeth
- You’re on a keto diet:
Followers of the ketogenic diet can find themselves suffering from what’s known as ‘keto breath,’ which is caused by the increased level of acetones in their body
How to get rid of it:
Drink plenty of water and try sugar-free gum or mints with xylitol.
- You have cavities or an infection:
Cavities and dental infections are generally caused by bacteria overgrowth in your mouth, and these bacteria secrete byproducts, a common culprit being sulphur, which causes malodor
How to get rid of it:
Get regular check-ups done atleast twice a year so that the cavities, gum diseases or any other kind of infection can be treated at an early stage
- You have an old dental work:
Having dental work that’s overdue for an update or poor-quality restorations can leave your breath smelling not so fresh. Old fillings can wear out, letting harmful bacteria seep into the tooth, causing infection. Similarly, old crowns can crack, leaving openings for bacteria to creep in and cause cavities and infection in the underlying tooth. Low-quality restorations, such as porcelain-fused to metal crowns, can oxidize over time, breaking down from bacteria and acids, causing bad odors as well
How to get rid of it:
Make sure your dentist uses high-quality materials and state-of-the-art techniques in placing your restorations to ensure they don’t fail leading to bad breath. If you have, a crown or filling that needs to be replaced, don’t wait on it.
- You’re not flossing:
Without removing the plaque between the teeth and in the gum pocket, you are allowing bacteria to grow.
How to get rid of it:
Flossing before bed is a necessary part of your nighttime routine
- You have an underlying medical condition:
Chronic tonsillitis, nasal and sinus infections, as well as other disorder such as gastric reflux can result in bad breath.
How to get rid of it:
If you can’t seem to get of bad breath with any of the fixes above, it’s time to talk to your doctor to rule out an underlying condition.
Permanent Fixes For Bad Breath
- Use an electric toothbrush
- Minimize sugar intake
- Get yourself a tongue scraper
- Use mouthwash or an oral rinse
- Drink plenty of water
- Floss daily
