Bad breath if we’re honest is a problem for most of us at some point in our life. That nasty whiff can have us turning up our nose and crinkling our toes faster than Usain Bolt running for the last bus home.
August 6th 2016 marks National Fresh Breath Day so we have scoured the internet and asked our dentists here at Smile Essential in Leicester about all things breath related so we can help make your life a little sweeter.
There are 3 main reasons why people suffer from bad breath. First of all, it can just come down to what you eat garlic, onions and coffee are all known to cause a stench. Then there’s dental hygiene. Many people think that brushing their teeth twice a day is enough to keep bad breath at bay, but they’re wrong. Over a third of your tooth surfaces are in between the teeth so if you’re not flossing then you are leaving behind plaque and food which is going to breed bacteria and cause a pong. Lastly, bad breath can be caused by an underlying medical cause for that, such as throat, nose or lung infections and sinusitis, bronchitis or diabetes.
How do I know if I have bad breath? There are a few ways to find out if you have bad breath. You could ask a close family member or friend for their honest opinion. Or you could lick the back of your hand and wait for the saliva to dry a little then sniff.
How can I tell someone they have bad breath? Telling someone they have bad breath obviously runs the very high risk of offending them. If you don’t have to meet the person too often then perhaps just casually offer them a stick of gum or a breath freshener. We liked these tips from wikihow –
Exercise good oral hygiene when you’re around them –
After lunch say, “I’m going to go to the bathroom to quickly and brush my teeth; that dressing had so much garlic in it!”
Show them or talk about how you always keep floss and mouthwash in your desk because you cannot stand having bad breath.
Or if you feel close enough to that person perhaps you could be a little more direct –
“I noticed something, and I’m not sure if you’re aware, but your breath smells a bit off today”
“If the situation was reversed I would want someone to tell me, so I thought I’d let you know that you could use a breath mint right now.”
How can I keep my breath fresh?
Eat a balanced diet, including lots of veggies as it helps to promote a more alkaline environment, so the bad-breath-causing acid in your body balances out.
Snack on crunchy, healthy foods such as apples or carrots these can help to cleanse the surface of your teeth and remove any plaque build up – like a natural toothbrush.
Drink water throughout the day. This will help your mouths own cleansing abilities to avoid your breath turning stagnant and saliva sticky.
Brush, floss and clean your tongue every single day. Remove as much plaque build-up and food debris as possible from all areas of your mouth, not just the teeth surfaces reached with a toothbrush. Also, rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash once daily to keep bacteria at bay.
Chewing on fresh mint leaves or drinking mint tea will help to freshen your breath naturally.
Chew sugarless gum or mints which contain xylitol. Chewing gum increases salivary flow and helps remove some bacteria and staining, but you want to make it’s sugar-free so you’re not feeding the bacteria in your mouth and contributing to bad breath. Opt for a brand that contains the sweetener xylitol, which is antibacterial. It helps fight cavities and bacteria while improving the health of your teeth and gums.
Steer clear of cigarettes. Smoking not only dries out your mouth and body tissues, the nicotine actually squeezes the blood vessels so you’re not getting healthy saliva flow. This combo is what disrupts your mouth’s normal functioning process and leads to bad breath. To avoid this from happening, stop smoking or never start. Ever.
Visit your dentist regularly. They can carry out any hygiene work that’s’ required or look at an underlying problem.
We advise patients to discourage their children from thumb sucking and review it at every 6 month dental appointment. 
Dental phobia is something that we come come across frequently at Smile Essential dental practice. One in four people in the UK suffer from dental phobia. If you are brave enough to reach out and take the first step by getting in touch; then we see it as our personal mission to help you continue your journey to become dentally fit (and hopefully a lot less scared!).
