FRESH BREATH FOR THE NEW YEAR

We have all experienced bad breath at some stage, whether it’s first thing in the morning or that not so fresh feeling on a date! Studies show that 50 percent of adults have had bad breath or halitosis, at some point in their life.  Whilst the causes of bad breath may be harmless it can sometimes be a sign of something more serious.

CAUSES

1. Gum Disease
   Bad taste that won’t go away can be a warning sign of advanced gum disease. Seek advice from your dentist.
   
2. Bacteria
   We have hundreds of types of bacteria that naturally live in our mouth. When we eat, bacteria feed on the food left in your mouth and can leave a foul smelling waste product behind.
   
3. Dry Mouth
   If your mouth feels dry you might not be making enough saliva. The role of saliva is to flush bacteria and food out of the mouth. If you don’t produce enough saliva your mouth isn’t being cleaned as much as it should be. Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems or by simply breathing through your mouth.
4. Smoking and Tobacco
   Apart from giving you a host of health problems, smoking stains your teeth, gives  you bad breath and can make you susceptible to gum disease.
   
5. Morning Breath
   Waking with a bad smell in your mouth is very commonly known as morning breath. During sleep,  production of saliva slows and the mouth gets dry which allows bacteria to gather.
6. Keto Bad Breath
   Crash dieting can trigger halitosis. As the body is not getting enough carbs due to change in diet, it can trigger changes to the body’s metabolism. This may cause the scent of your breath to change.

HOW TO AVOID BAD BREATH

1. Brush your teeth twice a day and clean between your teeth with floss. This gets rid of bacteria that could be causing bad breath.
2. Keep saliva flowing by eating healthy foods that require a lot of chewing. Sugar free gum can also help as well as drinking lots of sugar free fluids.
3. Regular visits to the dentist will allow detection of any problems such as gum disease or dry mouth and prevent the condition from becoming more serious.
4. Quit Smoking
5. If you wear removable dentures take them out at night and clean them before using them the following day.
6. Mouthwash can help kill bacteria or mask bad breath, although only a temporary solution.