Bad breath is a common issue that can affect anybody at any age.

About one in four people are thought to have bad breath (halitosis) regularly.

What causes bad breath?

There are a number of things that can trigger bad breath It’s usually the result of bad oral health. If germs build up in your mouth, the toxins produced can trigger your breath to smell.

Bacteria break down pieces of food in the mouth, and might release an unpleasant-smelling gas. Any food trapped on your teeth– particularly in between them– is broken down by germs, which might trigger bad breath.

Relentless bad breath can often suggest gum disease. Eating highly flavoured foods, such as onions and garlic, can likewise trigger your breath to smell, as can smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.

Sometimes, bad breath can happen after an infection or health problem, or as a result of taking specific kinds of medication.

Learn more about the reasons for bad breath.
Treating and preventing bad breath.

Improving your oral health is normally adequate to cure bad breath and stop it taking place once again.

To improve your oral health, make sure you:

floss between your teeth daily
brush your teeth and gums frequently
clean your tongue frequently

Learn more about dealing with and preventing bad breath.
When to look for medical advice

See your dental practitioner, dental hygienist or dental therapist first if you still have bad breath after making changes to enhance your dental hygiene.

You may likewise need to visit your GP as there might be a medical cause that needs to be examined.

Don’t attempt to conceal the smell of your breath when looking for medical suggestions as it might make it harder to discover what’s triggering the problem.
Do I have bad breath?

It’s not constantly simple to tell if you have bad breath. Other individuals may see it first, but they might feel unpleasant informing you.

A simple test to discover whether you have bad breath is to lick the inside of your wrist with the back of your tongue and wait a few seconds till the saliva dries. If your wrist smells undesirable, it’s likely your breath does, too.