Bad breath (sometimes called halitosis) is very common. You can usually treat it yourself.
Causes of bad breath may include:
- eating or drinking strong-smelling or spicy foods and drinks
- problems with your teeth or gums, such as gum disease, holes in your teeth or an infection
- crash dieting
- some medical conditions, like tonsillitis or acid reflux
- smoking
How to treat bad breath yourself: The best way of making sure you do not have bad breath is to keep your teeth, tongue and mouth clean.
Do:
- gently brush your teeth and gums at least twice a day for 2 minutes
- use a fluoride toothpaste
- gently clean your tongue once a day using a tongue scraper or cleaner
- clean between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss at least once a day
- get regular dental check-ups
- keep dentures clean and remove them at night
- use sugar-free mints or chewing gum after having strong-smelling food and drinks
- try using an antibacterial mouthwash or toothpaste
Don’t:
- do not smoke
- do not rinse your mouth with water straight after brushing your teeth
- do not have lots of sugary foods and drinks
- do not brush so hard your gums or tongue bleed
See a dentist if you have:
- bad breath that does not go away after treating it yourself for a few weeks
- painful, bleeding or swollen gums
- toothache or wobbly adult teeth
- problems with your dentures
Citation: nhs.uk
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