Getting rid of bad breath
Bad breath happens to us all every now and then. Sometimes it’s just because we ate some heavy garlic, other times it feels like it’s always lingering – and won’t go away.
It’s also relatively common. In fact, a study of young adults in Dunedin found that 31% of survey participants suffered from halitosis (the technical term for bad breath).
But what causes all this bad breath, and why does it stick around? Let’s talk about halitosis, how to mask it, and how to treat it.
In this article:
What causes bad breath?
Common causes of bad breath
Certain foods: Some food is just… smelly! And when we consume those foods, it can leave their odour in our mouths or digestive tract, leading to temporary bad breath.
Bacteria: The build-up of odour-causing bacteria can also lead to bad breath. This can occur a few different ways:
Food particles getting trapped in the mouth, giving something for bacteria to feed on.
Poor oral hygiene.
Bacteria growing at the back of the tongue, which you may not clean as thoroughly as your teeth and gums.
Dry mouth. Saliva is your mouth’s way of rinsing itself, and if that dries out for too long it can allow bacteria to grow.
Disease or decay: Gum disease or tooth decay, also commonly a sign of bacterial infection, can lead to bad mouth odour. This may also be a sign of fungal infection instead.
Illness: Certain illnesses like colds, tonsillitis and sinus problems can lead to bad breath.
Smoking: Smoking is connected with a large number of oral health conditions, and one of those is bad breath.
Drinking alcohol: Alcohol is a known diuretic, that is, it makes your body need to urinate more - sometimes drying you out. This can lead to sensations of thirst and dry mouth, which we know may lead to bacterial growth and smelly breath.
Certain health conditions: A number of other medical conditions have been connected to bad breath, such as respiratory infections, diabetes, liver or kidney disorders, and a few others. If this is the case for you, you may need to see a doctor or your dentist about your bad breath.
Habits which can lead to bad breath
Not drinking enough water: Water helps hydrate the body, encouraging the production of saliva. Drinking less water could lead to having a dryer mouth.
Not brushing or flossing thoroughly: This could allow bacteria to thrive in the nooks and crannies of your mouth, producing an odour.
Smoking and drinking: Which we know from above can dry you out, among other problems.
Eating smelly foods regularly: Imagine the difference in breath of someone who eats garlic and onions all the time, versus someone who never touches them.
Mouth breathing: Breathing through your mouth instead of nose can lead to dry mouth.
Regularly skipping meals: Eating helps stimulate the production of saliva, so skipping too many meals may lead to having a dry mouth.
Can bad breath come from the stomach?
Yes, bad breath can also come from the stomach.
If you ate something particularly smelly, you may belch up those odours every now and then while you’re digesting. This could give the illusion of bad breath.
Additionally, certain other health problems can cause bad breath to originate in the gut.
Chronic acid reflux is one example. But, kidney disease, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, bowel obstructions and infection may also all cause smells which can be detected through the mouth.
Diagnosing halitosis: How to smell your own breath
If you’ve ever tried it you probably realised it’s actually pretty tricky to smell your own breath.
Generally, you can’t just breathe into a cupped hand and then sniff like Hollywood shows. Instead, you can sniff your saliva (which may have the same smell as your breath).
The following techniques are a bit weird, but give them a go and see if they work for you:
Lick your wrist, let it dry, and sniff the spot. Our noses struggle to pick up on the scent of our own breath, but not the scent of our own saliva.
Scrape your tongue with a tongue scraper or soft-bristled brush and then sniff that.
Keep in mind, if you can taste something bad on your mouth, there’s a chance it has a smell. Bad tastes and bad smells are often (but not always) linked, so if you can sense one then the other is probably lurking there too.
Of course, you can also ask someone that you trust to smell your breath.
Navigating the social impacts of bad breath
To some, bad breath is just something funny. But to those with chronic halitosis, it can have a sizable impact on their life.
Both adults and adolescents with bad breath, who took part in a study in Romania, indicated that they felt more anxious and depressed than those without bad breath, and felt more socially isolated. They also reported lower self esteem.
The UK’s Breath Institute also found that people with halitosis have decreased happiness, and that it interferes with their intimate relationships.
Does your partner have bad breath? Here’s how to talk to them about it
Remember empathy: There’s a high chance that, if your partner isn’t aware of their own bad breath, or feels sensitive about it, then bringing it up may cause some hurt feelings. Try to be empathetic and kind, ensure you’re in a safe space (so it’s not embarrassing in front of others), and give them the emotional space to process.
Try positivity too: Helping someone with their bad breath doesn’t just have to be pointing out when it’s bad. You can also point out when it’s fresh, or even pleasant, as a way of staying positive and encouraging them to maintain healthy habits.
Offer solutions: If you’re worried about straight up saying “Your breath smells bad”, you could try talking about solutions instead. “I’ve noticed your breath hasn’t been smelling as fresh when we go to bed, how does your mouth feel? Is your toothbrush wearing down?”
Note: This soft, roundabout approach may not work for someone who is feeling very defensive about their breath. Always remember your empathy – some people need time to process their feelings.
Encourage a trip to the dentist: If their bad breath occurs frequently, without any obvious connection to food, there may be a wider problem at play. A trip to the dentist may be in order so that a professional can investigate.
Solving your bad breath! Fast fixes and long-term solutions
Now that we’ve been over the common causes of bad breath, its impact on people’s lives, and how to talk to your partner, it’s high time we got into some solutions.
First, we’re going to get into quick fixes and temporary masking – that’ll solve the issue for now.
Then we’ll move into long-term issues and chronic halitosis, so you get some ideas about solving this (or at least mitigating it) for good.
Bad breath quick fixes
Drink water: Having a glass of water will not only rinse your mouth (potentially dislodging anything which is causing your odour issues), but it also helps you stay hydrated – a way to prevent bad breath from coming back.
Try a sugar-free mint: Sugar-free gum or a lolly you can suck on may help give your breath that minty freshness. Gum and suckable lollies can also stimulate the production of saliva, further helping your breath. Just make sure to avoid sugar – bacteria loves to eat sugar, and you don’t want to encourage its growth.
Brush and floss: Brushing and flossing your teeth could help clean any bacteria or food particles causing the smell, just make sure you get all the nooks and crannies, and give your tongue a brush too.
Use mouthwash: While dentists are mixed on the effectiveness of mouthwash in fighting bacteria as part of a regular oral health regime, minty mouthwashes may help freshen your breath by rinsing it out and leaving behind a fresh odour.
Eat an apple: Crunchy, hard fruits and vegetables (like carrots and celery too) can help dislodge stuck food particles from your mouth, and they stimulate the production of saliva too. Plus, they’re a healthy snack just in general!
What to do about bad breath before kissing
Expecting a smooch in your near future? The bad breath quick fixes we just mentioned should help you out.
You could use a flavoured mouth spray instead, but if your bad breath is being caused by stuck food, staleness (i.e. from dry mouth) or bacteria, you may find it more effective to rinse thoroughly with water and/or brush your teeth instead. Your partner will likely appreciate it too.
How to temporarily mask bad breath
You can temporarily mask bad breath with anything that has a strong, pleasant flavour. Like foods with a strong negative smell, foods with a strong positive smell can leave an odour behind - such as sugar-free mint gum, for example, or flavoured mouth sprays.
Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water to wash out whatever’s in there, then use whatever food or spray you want to mask with.
Just keep in mind that these aren’t fixes, just Band-Aids. To get rid of your bad breath completely, you’d need to figure out - and tackle - the root cause of the issue (i.e. stuck food particles, or bacteria).
Solving bad breath with better dental hygiene
A regular oral health regime is one of the best ways to eliminate bad breath.
Taking care of your mouth through brushing and flossing each day ensures that old food is dislodged, bacteria disturbed or removed, and decay kept at bay. While this may not help if you have other underlying conditions – or habits, like smoking, which are contributing to your bad breath - it’ll still continue to help protect your mouth, which may limit some of the worst of your halitosis.
Good oral health tips include:
Brushing twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, remembering to get not just the fronts of your teeth but also the backs, the chewing surfaces and the gumline.
Brushing your tongue once a day as well.
Flossing once a day.
Spitting, but not rinsing, after brushing (so you don’t wash off all that good stuff).
Staying hydrated.
Chronic bad breath: When it just won’t go away, can it be cured?
Why bad breath sometimes persists
Often, bad breath goes away on its own – especially after brushing. But, other times it won’t. It’s in these cases that you might realise you have chronic bad breath – and this could be an indication that something is more widely wrong with your health.
Bad breath may become chronic if it’s a part of one of these wider issues:
Gum disease and/or tooth decay is taking place in your mouth.
You are suffering from a digestive condition, like IBS or chronic acid reflux.
Your dentures, if any, are not fitted properly. Poorly fitted dentures may develop fungal growth and other issues, leading to bad odours.
You have diabetes, liver disease or kidney disease, or another health issue for which bad breath is a symptom.
You have an infection of the throat, sinuses or respiratory tract.
You’re a smoker or heavy drinker.
You’re on certain medication, like certain supplements, antihistamines, diuretics or antidepressants.
Can chronic bad breath be cured?
Generally, chronic bad breath is a symptom rather than a cause. What that means is, yes, it can often be cured by tackling the underlying issue.
While it may be difficult to treat a major health problem such as liver disease or diabetes, many other issues (gum disease, infections, poorly fitted dentures and smoking habits) can be dealt with through medical intervention and changes to lifestyle.
If you’re worried at all about chronic bad breath, don’t go it alone. Go see your dentist and tell them about your concerns so that they can investigate more thoroughly.
Bad breath FAQ
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In certain cases, yes. Eating more food, drinking water or brushing your teeth normally can get rid of some cases of halitosis – which, in effect, is the same as your bad breath going away ‘on its own’.
Where it might not go away on its own is where the problem is more severe, it’s being caused by other underlying conditions, or you aren’t looking after your oral health.
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This is hard to answer because it’s highly dependent. The severity of your bad breath and the conditions around you will impact how far your breath travels.
Generally, minor bad breath is only detectable up close – a few centimetres away.
In a small enclosed space with limited airflow, bad breath might be detectable from up to a metre away. Severe bad breath is more likely to be detected by people further away.
In an open space with lots of airflow, the chances of anyone smelling your breath are more limited.
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Certain gums, yes.
Chewing on gum can stimulate the production of saliva and may dislodge food particles, both of which can help with bad breath. If that gum has a fresh, strong scent (like mint), this may help even more.
But, if that gum is also full of sugar, it may actually feed the bacteria in your mouth - risking that the issue gets worse, not better, once the initial minty smell wears off.
Worried about your breath? Book an appointment with us today
Bad breath isn’t something you need to just live with. If you’re worried at all about your breath, or your oral health in general, come see us on Maunu Road in Whangārei, call us on 09 430 0707 or book an appointment online.
Our friendly team can assess your mouth, talk about your recent experiences with bad breath, and work with you to figure out not only the cause, but the best treatment too.