Could bad breath be keeping you from meeting Mr/Miss right?

Ok, other than this rainy winter weather Sydney is showering us with, bad breath should NOT be an excuse as to why you are not out enjoying that dream date this weekend.

If you know you have bad breath, or “halitosis” as us dental professionals refer to affects one in four people and some studies have reported that approximately 50 percent of the adult population does have it.1

Causes of Bad Breath

Causes of bad breath can include the following:2

• Dental issues (poor oral hygiene, gingivitis and periodontal disease)
• Dentures (plaque and food can develop on dentures)
• Dry mouth (lack of saliva flow)
• Mouth, nose and throat issues (sinus or throat infections and cryptic tonsillitis)
• Systemic diseases (diabetes, lung infections or abscesses, kidney/liver failure, gastrointestinal conditions)
• Patients who are dieting on a regular basis

Bad breath can be caused by external and internal factors

External factors are usually the types of foods we eat. There are a lot of triggers, spicy food, strong- odour food, tobacco, alcohol and coffee can also cause bad breath. Try keeping a log book of the foods you eat if you feel your bad breath is related to what you eat.

The tongue provides a place for bacteria to attach and grow so Internal factors include oral factors that can affect the body systemically. Odour-causing bacteria produces compounds that cause bad breath called volatile sulfur compounds. Most of these odour-causing bacteria reside in the posterior area of the tongue.

Ways to beat bad breath

• Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day, as soon as possible after you eat.
• Rinse or gargle with water or mouthwash.
• Floss your teeth at least once a day.
• Drink plenty of water to prevent dry mouth, a cause of bad breath.
• Schedule regular dental checkups.

If you still have bad breath, during your  next visit at Dental Lounge, ask your dentist to examine your mouth and investigate why you are experiencing bad breath. We may demonstrate how to clean or floss properly or advise you to use a antibacterial fluoride toothpaste. One odour expert dentists will help identify the cause and also help develop a treatment plan to stop bad breath in it’s tracks.

We hope to see you soon.

The Dental Lounge Family.

1. American Dental Association, Council on Scientific Affairs: Association report: Oral Malodor, J Am Dent Asso 134:209-214, 2003.

2. Bad Breath, Mayo Clinic, Reviewed information at www.mayoclinic.com.