Fresh Breath: The One That Got Away

Fresh breath is often overlooked, even amongst the most pertinent of groomers. The daily routine involves several scent altering processes. We may start by showering with some kiwi infused shower gel. We lavish our hair with essences of grapefruit. And, of course, we brush our teeth not only to clean them, but to achieve that minty fresh breath. However, by lunchtime, that minty fresh breath may have vacated its seat for the unwelcome lingerof bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis. Here at Bamboo, we've adapted a list of the most prominent causes of bad breath. We advise you to study them carefully and eliminate or cut down on anything that you feel could be responsible.

Do You Know What Causes Bad Breath?

For some people, halitosis is an ongoing struggle. In others, it may be easily rectified. The severity of the odour escaping your mouth will depend largely on the cause of your bad breath. You may have a dry mouth, there may be a taste that is changing throughout the day or a coating on the tongue may be the root cause of the problem.

Dry Mouth

Have you ever began to salivate when you were hungry or expecting a meal? This is a process your body induces in order to move digestive enzymes into the mouth. The food that you consume then starts to digest in your mouth. If you have a saliva deficiency, there will be bits of food left in the mouth that remain undigested and can start to smell. A dry mouth can be the result of certain types of medication. It could also be the result of an underlying issue with your salivary gland. A final cause may be that you are simply drawing breath through your mouth too much making it become dry!

Dietary Problems

A poor diet is possibly bad breath's biggest ally. It is easy to notice when your colleague has indulged in an Indian takeaway the night before. It is advisable to brush your teeth soon after eating these types of foods as this to limit any smells that may be setting up camp for the night. There are also much more in depth processes at work in which foods you wouldn't expect to cause bad breath, in fact can. If you happen to be utilising a low carbohydrate diet then more fat is broken down instead of the carbohydrates. This causes certain chemicals (ketones) to be released into the breath causing it to smell!

Poor Hygiene

You have probably been asked by your dentist if you floss. Flossing allows you to clean the small crevices between your teeth. These small gaps are the perfect host for bacteria looking to feast on tiny, lodged food particles. If these food particles are not removed, they can result in bad breath as well as tooth decay. It is therefore important to keep your teeth in excellent hygiene. If you need help with this, Bamboo Dental, Cardiff, can offer expert hygienist services to guide you in the right direction.

Consumption of Cigarettes

There are various consequences to smoking tobacco products. These can range from staining the teeth to irritating the gum of the person in question. The most notable side-effect is the smell that it leaves on the persons breath. If giving up smoking altogether is out of the question for you there are specific ways you can attempt to freshen up your breath a little. See our fresh breath clinic for more information on this.

Illnesses

Some illnesses can be debilitating to your breath. Respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia are linked with causing bad breath as well as other diseases such as; chronic sinus infections, post nasal drips, diabetes and liver or kidney problems.

Poorly Fitted Dental Fillings

If your dental fillings have been poorly fitted into the teeth then there may be small gaps. These small gaps can lead to leakages and in some cases can aggravate the lining of the gum. This, if not seen to, can lead to issues with the smell of your breath.

What Can You Do About Bad Breath?

Perhaps you've established that your breath could use a little improvement. Well, there are surefire ways to achieve that minty fresh scent you are after. Your next question will most likely be; how do I go about achieving that?

Drink Plenty of Water

We identified earlier that a dry mouth is one of the causes of bad breath. If you are able to keep your mouth hydrated then it is much easier for your salivary glands to produce saliva. This saliva will help to break down excess food left in the mouth. Drinking water is a surefire way to combat bad breath if the cause is down to having a dry mouth.

Use a Tongue Scraper

One part of the mouth that is massively neglected is the back of the tongue. A tongue scraper is ideal for cleaning the entire tongue and to get to the back of those hard to reach places. If you don't have a tongue scraper then it is perhaps time you invested in one!

Don't Forget to Use Mouthwash

This will not clean your mouth as effectively as a tongue scraper. However mouthwash is a quick fix to fresh minty breath. It is suggested that you rinse and gargle for 30 seconds using your mouthwash.

Fresh Breath Clinic

Bamboo Dental can offer expert advice on your oral hygiene. Our experienced dentist, Dr. Dan Rogers and his trusty team can give you advice and solutions to moving towards a fresher breath. We can offer our high quality fresh breath polish. During the appointment, our Dentist, will also apply an industry recognised odour eliminating solution called UltraDEX. At Bamboo, we want to give you the tools to look after your dental hygiene. That is why after treatment we will provide you with an UltraDEX oral spray and a special daily rinse that will keep your fresh breath throughout the day.