Bad breath – the medical name is halitosis – is brought on by bacteria in the mouth. The best way to beat bad breath is to ensure that these bacteria are removed. The bacteria can be caused by excess plaque in the mouth so it is essential that this plaque is removed by brushing and flossing properly. Plaque is formed every time you eat food, especially food that is particularly sugary and starchy. You should brush and floss at least twice a day and after meals too if the problem with bad breath is bad.

The bacteria causing bad breath can build up on the tongue so you might wish to brush your tongue too as part of your home oral hygiene routine. Be sure to brush gently though as your tongue is a sensitive organ and you don’t want to damage it.

Chewing gum is an effective way to relieve the symptoms of bad breath, particularly if you are on the move. The often minty flavour is pleasant to smell and the motion of chewing helps to stimulate saliva and dislodge food debris.

Sometimes dentists might recommend that you use a special mouthwash to combat bad breath. In some cases bad breath can be a signal of a deeper problem with your mouth, gum disease perhaps. You ought to contact your Merseyside dentist if you are suffering from bad breath and want more advice about how to eliminate it.

When we eat food, small particles get stuck between the teeth, around the base of the teeth and in the moist grooves of the tongue. There they begin to decay as they are acted upon by the bacteria that exist naturally in the mouth. This releases nasty-smelling compounds, which are then carried out the mouth when we exhale. Many people think that they can rid themselves of bad breath by using oral products like mouthwash or spray. Whilst this does mask the smell, the effect is only temporary and the bad breath will eventually return. This could be anywhere from ten minutes to two hours but it will be difficult for you to be sure, as bad breath is notoriously difficult to self-diagnose.

More effective brushing and flossing after eating will help to remove these food particles stopping the source of the problem. Toxteth dentists also recommend the use of a special tongue cleaning brush or tongue scraper for use once or twice a week. This will remove bacteria from the surface of the tongue that is hard to clean with a regular toothbrush. If the problem persists, it may be being caused by gum disease, which also has a distinctive odour that can cause bed breath. If you are concerned that you may be suffering from bad breath, visit your dentist who can locate the exact source of the problems and explain more effective cleaning methods to help beat it.

Nearly nine out of ten cases of bad breath are caused by problems in the mouth, so the chances are, by making changes to your dental healthcare routine you can prevent it coming back. Many people turn to mouthwashes or sprays because they think they solve the problem of bad breath but in reality they only address the symptoms not the cure. Mouthwashes have been proved to only mask the smell of bad breath for as little as two hours and in some cases can even make it worse. This happens because it upsets the natural bacterial balance in the mouth and disrupts the production of saliva.

Better brushing and flossing removes more of the bacteria and trapped food particles that decay and cause most cases of bad breath. When bacteria breaks down food trapped between teeth or in the small grooves of the tongue it releases a series of foul-smelling chemicals which are the root of most bad breath. By making the extra effort to remove these you could stop halitosis once and for all.

Dentists in Kirby can give you more information about improved dental care and the best ways to keep teeth clean so bad breath doesn’t affect your life.

It is important to remember that there are several easy steps to getting rid of bad breath. This does not include the use of mouthwashes or breath sprays as many people think. Mints, sprays and mouthwashes in fact do little more than mask the smell temporarily and it will return in anything between ten minutes and two hours. In some cases, mouthwash can even make the problem worse because it destabilises the delicate bacteria/saliva balance in the mouth, the body’s natural defence against bad breath.

The key to stopping bad breath is better oral hygiene. Over 90 per cent of cases of halitosis are cause by poor oral hygiene. The main reason for this is that food particles that get trapped in between teeth and in the grooves of the tongue attract bacteria. When this begins to decay it releases nasty smelling chemicals that are carried out on the breath making it smell. More thorough tooth brushing and crucially, flossing will remove these food particles before they can begin to break down. A Merseyside dentist will be able to explain in more detail how best to clean your teeth to stop bad breath at your next appointment.

Bad breath can be caused by issues such as poor digestion or intestinal problems but over 90 per cent of cases are caused by bacteria in the mouth and poor standards of oral hygiene. Bacteria thrive in the mouth where conditions are perfect. There are 500 million bacteria that live on the average human tongue alone. Another cause of bad breath is the food matter that gets caught between the teeth and decays. When this happens it releases foul smelling sulfurous compounds which cause the breath to smell.

Mouthwashes and other bad breath fighting measures such as chewing gum can mask the smell but they won’t tackle the cause of the problem and it will return. The best way to combat bad breath is to brush your teeth properly twice a day and floss in the morning to remove food mater from between the teeth. Flossing is particularly useful as it cleans areas that conventional brushes are unable to reach. Brushing and flossing also help to fight plaque, a filmy substance full of bacteria that lives on the enamel of the teeth. Plaque is also a cause of bad odour and by removing it not only will your breath smell better but it will also help to keep teeth free from decay and cavities. It is also important to brush or scrape the tongue using a specially designed brush. The bristles on normal brushes are too soft to effectively clean the tongue so it is a good idea to buy a special brush. A dentist in Toxteth will be able to recommend which cleaning tools are the best for your mouth during a routine check up.

Bad breath can therefore act as a warning sign that your oral hygiene regime isn’t quite up to scratch and could do with improving. A dentist will be able to offer instruction in how to clean more effectively. Remember to keep up your six-monthly check-ups at the dentist and help to fight tooth decay and have fresh smelling breath.

The best way to detect if you have bad breath is to ask your nose. If you aren’t able to make out, seek the opinion of your children or spouse or even your dentist who will be able to tell if you have halitosis. One of the simplest ways to smell your own breath is to lick your wrist and wait for five seconds to dry; then smell the saliva to get a whiff of your breath.

Bad breath can be caused by a many different reasons; foodstuffs like onion and garlic cause a foul odour. If you do not brush or floss regularly, food particles can get accumulated between the teeth which can lead to halitosis. Conditions like xerostomia where the person has very little production of saliva can also lead to bad breath. Sometimes other medical problems like respiratory tract infections, diabetes, sinusitis and salivary gland diseases can also cause bad breath.

Maintaining a healthy oral regimen is the key to preventing bad breath. Brush twice a day in the morning and at bedtime with a fluoride toothpaste and floss regularly to clean the teeth well. Instead of regular mouthwashes which are only cosmetic, your dentist in Toxteth will be able to prescribe special antibacterial mouth rinses which are very effective for bad breath. Also remember to periodically consult your dentist for regular cleaning and check up which will help you to keep your breath free of any odour.

Having bad breath is actually common under the following situations:

• After waking up from a night’s sleep
• After eating foods that contain garlic or onion
• After drinking certain beverages such as alcohol
• Smoking

In addition to foul-smelling breath, you could also experience other symptoms such as:

• Inflamed gums
• Presence of sores
• Plaque-covered teeth
• Dryness of the mouth

Since it is more likely that other people will notice your bad breath first, you can always ask a family member or a friend to give their honest opinion. If you feel uncomfortable, you can opt to visit your Everton dentist to get you checked.

Bad breath is usually caused by oral bacteria that reside in your teeth, feeding on food debris and plaque. If this is the cause of your bad breath, your dentist will probably suggest the following:

• Professional cleaning including scaling
• Antiseptic mouthwash
• Regular brushing and flossing

On the other hand, if the cause seems to be because of your diet or lifestyle, your dentist might suggest some changes. There are also instances when the bead breath is a symptom of an underlying condition such as gastritis or diabetes. In this case, you will be referred to a medical doctor.

Preventing bad breath is actually simple. You just need to:

• Avoid smoking
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid eating sweets
• Eat well-balanced meals