Bad breath: we all fear it, but most of us still experience it to the horror of those around us. Bad breath, also known as oral malodor or in severe cases halitosis, is an embarrassing but treatable condition. Bad breath is often caused by something as innocent as food, but it can also signal underlying oral health or medical issues. Here are nine of the most common culprits for bad breath and how you can prevent them:
1. Ignoring oral hygiene
While you might think that skipping that morning floss wasn’t such a big deal, it could be the cause of your smelly morning breath. Most bad breath is caused by poor oral hygiene and maintaining a consistent and thorough oral care routine is the bed defence against smelly breath. If you don’t clean your teeth, tongue and removable oral devices (think retainers, dentures, aligners, sports guards and night guards) regularly, food particles and bacteria-ridden plaque can form on your teeth. Dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day (morning and night), flossing daily, and using Dr Mark’s HyGenie and Dental Fresh daily to clean all removable devices. Unfortunately, when poor hygiene becomes a habit, it can lead to other oral health conditions such as cavities and gum disease which may exacerbate bad breath.
2. Eating onions, garlic and spices
Who doesn’t love a buttery garlic bread or spicy curry? But did you know that after eating certain foods – including onions, garlic, and spices – food particles enter the bloodstream and lungs, where they affect the odour of your breath? This is because the process of breaking down these particular food particles can increase bacteria in the mouth and cause a foul smell.
3. Drinking coffee
If you’re anything like us, you enjoy a strong cup of coffee in the morning. However, you may have noticed that it can leave you feeling like you have a furry mouth. Coffee can be a cause of bad breath due to its flavour and the dehydrating effects on the mouth. Caffeine leads to a decline in saliva production which increases odour-causing bacteria to fester. If you can’t brush your teeth after your cuppa, ensure that you stay hydrated by drinking water afterwards.
4. Consuming alcohol
Wine connoisseur? Watch out for bad breath. Just like caffeine decreases saliva production and makes us more dehydrated, alcohol consumption has similar effects. So the more often you drink alcohol, the more likely you are to experience bad breath. A dehydrated mouth is the perfect breeding ground for odour-causing bacteria to linger. Again, ensure that you stay hydrated and avoid drinking in excess.
5. Eating sugary and processed foods
At the risk of sounding like the fun police, diets that are high in sugar can also spell bad breath. This is because bacteria that already exists in your mouth feeds off of sugar, allowing it to flourish and create more foul smells. If you’re a sweet lover, be careful that your daily diet habits don’t lead to halitosis.
6. Going on a diet
Shredding for the wedding? You may not expect this side effect. Extreme or limiting diets such as high-protein or low-carb can cause changes to your body’s metabolism function which can lead to bad breath. High-protein foods can be difficult for your body to digest and may release sulphurous gases. To avoid experiencing bad breath, try eating a more balanced diet by increasing your intake of vegetables and herbs (just watch out for that garlic).
7. Smoking
As if you needed another reason to quit! The tobacco in cigarettes and vaporisers causes bad breath and can lead to much more serious oral health and medical issues including cancer. Apart from leaving your breath smelling like an ashtray, tobacco also damages the gum tissue which may lead to gum disease. Consider speaking with your doctor to quit.
8. Taking prescription medication
Saliva helps keep our mouths clean by removing food particles that lead to bad breath. However, many prescription medications we take list dry mouth (otherwise known as cotton-mouth) as a negative side-effect. Dry mouth occurs when our body’s natural saliva production is compromised due to sickness or medication. A dry mouth is the perfect environment for odour-causing bacteria and it can lead to discomfort and bad breath. Additionally, some medications release chemicals that can be carried through your bloodstream to your breath.
9. Mouth, nose and throat conditions
Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones on our tonsils or other infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat. This is due to an increase in bad bacteria in the mouth which produces odour and increased phlegm. See your doctor if you think that you have a bacterial infection and continue to maintain good oral hygiene to help your body to recover more quickly from illnesses.
10. Putting dirty removable dental appliances in your mouth
The number one cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. So you can’t afford to ignore your oral care routine if you want to avoid embarrassing smelly breath, and that includes putting dirty removable dental appliances in your mouth. Dr Mark’s HyGenie products can hygienically clean your removable oral device – that includes retainers, aligners, night guards, dentures and more – in less than a minute. Try it today to remove odour and stains and keep your breath fresh.
Shop Dr Mark’s First Buy Bundle
Plus, for a limited time only, enjoy FREE shipping on all orders over $40. Use code SHIPFREE at the checkout.
