“Why do I get bad breath?” is one of the most commonly asked dental questions. There are a range of causes for bad breath, but some are more serious than others. Bad breath can be caused by:
- Strong, aromatic foods like garlic, curries, onion, fish or coffee
- Smoking or alcohol consumption
- Poor dental hygiene
- Dry mouth or a condition called halitosis
If you often get bad breath, try to increase the frequency of your flossing and brushing, as often plaque can cause bad breath.Some people find using a minty mouth wash can also help.
However if your mouth is dry, has a metallic or bad taste and you often have bad breath despite having good oral hygiene, come in and see us at Vivid Dental, as there may be an underlying cause like infection, decay or food trapping.
Some medications can cause dry mouth or a metallic taste in the mouth, which can also cause bad breath. Drinking water more frequently can help moisten saliva which helps fight plaque accumulation. Mints and chewing gum can assist in masking bad breath, however it’s crucial to choose sugar and colour free varieties so that you aren’t doing more damage to your teeth.
In order to limit your likelihood of having bad breath, it’s important to thoroughly brush twice per day, and floss once per day. Using a mouth wash after brushing can also freshen breath for a longer period of time.
Having regular professionally cleaning at the dentist every 6 months is also important in maintaining healthy breath, as food traps and tartar and calculus can all increase your likelihood of having bad breath. If you are really concerned or are noticing it’s particularly bad, it could be a sign of something more serious and is best to have your mouth examined professionally.
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