The Top Causes of Bad Breath and How to Cure it

Ever find yourself talking to someone and worrying that they can smell your breath? Bad breath can cause a lot of anxiety, worry and embarrassment. It can affect your confidence, and second guess reactions people have to you and your conversations.

We are going to help you recognise what causes bad breath, so that you know how to approach your concerns next time you start to smell your own breath.

What can cause bad breath?

There are numerous ways that you can cause you to obtain bad breath. There are a number of common causes that lead to bad breath. These include:

Particular Foods

There are a number of foods that can cause you to gain that notable smell on your breath. Some foods, such as garlic, onion and chilli, can last on your breath after eating for up to 24 hours. You can mask the smell with gum or by brushing but until your body processes the food that you’ve eaten, it may last for a little bit.

There are also a number of drinks that can cause you bad breath, including coffee, alcohol, soft drink, and milk.

Dry mouth

This is exactly how it sounds. Dry mouth is caused when you aren’t getting enough fluids into your body, which impacts the production of saliva and, in turn, the smell of your breath. Saliva is one of the most natural ways to wash away excess food and built up bacteria from the mouth, which is impacted when you suffer from dry mouth. It can be caused through medications, alcohol, stress or dehydration.

Poor Oral Hygiene

The most common reason for bad breath is most likely bad oral hygiene. If you aren’t following a routine with your dental hygiene, it may mean that you are missing food or bacteria that may be building up between your teeth.

So, what are some ways to approach your bad breath?

The Cure

One of the easiest ways to approach your bad breath is by ensuring that you keep up with your brushing routine. It is recommended to brush twice daily and floss regularly to make sure that you have little bacteria build up, and therefore less of a chance to have bad breath.

It is also wise to drink plenty of water in the day, and avoiding known causes of bad breath when you can help it. If you don’t see any improvement after implementing these tips, then it may be worth seeing your dentist to make sure there isn’t an underlying cause.