How to Get Rid of Bad Breath

Bad breath, also called halitosis, is very common, and in most cases it starts in the mouth. The good news is that it usually improves with a better daily routine. When it doesn’t, a dental visit can find the cause. Below, we explain what causes bad breath, what you can do about it at home, and when it is time to see a dentist.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Most bad breath comes from bacteria in the mouth. As they break down leftover food, plaque, and dead cells, they release sulfur compounds that smell unpleasant. The most common causes are:

• Plaque and food left on the teeth. Food caught between the teeth and along the gumline feeds odour-causing bacteria, especially when brushing or flossing is skipped.
• A coated tongue. The back of the tongue has a rough surface where bacteria and debris collect. It is one of the most common sources of bad breath, and brushing your teeth alone does not clean it.
• Gum disease. Bacteria in the pockets around the teeth can cause a bad smell or taste that keeps coming back. Bleeding, swollen, or receding gums are warning signs of gum disease.
• Dry mouth. Saliva washes away food and bacteria. When your mouth is dry, during sleep, from breathing through your mouth, or as a side effect of some medications, odour builds up faster. This is why morning breath is so common. Read more about dry mouth and oral health.
• Strong-smelling foods and drinks. Garlic, onions, spices, coffee, and alcohol can affect your breath for hours. Some odour compounds from garlic and onions are absorbed into the bloodstream and breathed out through the lungs, so brushing only hides them for a while.
• Smoking and tobacco. Tobacco leaves its own smell, dries the mouth, and raises the risk of gum disease.
• Dental problems. Cavities, a broken filling that traps food, or an infection such as a tooth abscess can all cause a bad taste and smell.
• Dentures, retainers, and aligners. Appliances collect plaque just like teeth do, so they need to be cleaned every day.
• Some medical conditions. Tonsillitis, sinus infections, and acid reflux can also cause bad breath. If your dentist finds no cause in your mouth, talk to your doctor.

How Can You Tell if You Have Bad Breath?

It is hard to judge your own breath because your nose gets used to it. Two simple checks help: ask someone you trust to tell you honestly, or floss between your back teeth and smell the floss. A white or yellow coating on the back of your tongue is another clue.

How to Get Rid of Bad Breath at Home

Brush Twice a Day and Clean Between Your Teeth

Brush gently for two minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste, and clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes. Food trapped between the teeth is a common source of odour, and a toothbrush cannot reach it. Brushing harder does not clean better, so use a soft-bristled brush and a gentle technique. Our guide on how to brush your teeth walks through it step by step.

Clean Your Tongue Every Day

Once a day, gently clean your tongue with a tongue scraper or your toothbrush, working from the back toward the tip. This removes the coating where many odour-causing bacteria live, and many people notice a difference within days. See our tips on how to clean your tongue properly.

Keep Your Mouth Moist

Drink water through the day, and chew sugar-free gum after meals to keep saliva flowing. If a medication leaves your mouth dry, mention it to your dentist or doctor.

Use Mouthwash the Right Way

Most mouthwashes only cover up odour for a short time. An antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce the bacteria that cause it, but it works best as an extra step, not a replacement for brushing and cleaning between your teeth. As the NHS advises, don’t rinse with water straight after brushing, so the fluoride in your toothpaste can keep working.

Clean Dentures and Appliances Daily

Brush dentures, retainers, night guards, and clear aligners every day, and take dentures out at night.

Watch What You Eat and Drink

Cut back on sugary foods and drinks, which feed bacteria, and limit alcohol and coffee. After a strong-smelling meal, sugar-free mints or gum can help for a short time.

Quit Smoking

Stopping tobacco improves your breath, your gums, and your overall health. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you find a plan to quit.

When Should You See a Dentist About Bad Breath?

Book a visit if bad breath doesn’t go away after a few weeks of better home care, or if you also have:

• bleeding, swollen, or painful gums
• gums that are pulling back from your teeth (see how to stop receding gums)
• a toothache, a loose adult tooth, or a bad taste that won’t go away
• a mouth that feels dry most of the time
• dentures that no longer fit well

How Your Dentist Treats Bad Breath

At your visit, your dentist and hygienist look for the source: plaque and tartar, gum pockets, cavities, broken fillings, and signs of dry mouth. A professional cleaning removes hardened tartar above and below the gumline, where brushing can’t reach. If gum disease is found, a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) treats the infection below the gumline. Cavities, broken fillings, or an infected tooth are repaired so they no longer trap bacteria. If your mouth is healthy and the smell continues, your dentist may suggest that you see your doctor to check for other causes, such as a sinus problem or acid reflux.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my breath bad even though I brush?

Brushing cleans only part of the mouth. Bacteria on the back of the tongue and food between the teeth are common causes, so cleaning your tongue and between your teeth every day often helps. If the smell continues, gum disease or dry mouth may be the reason, and a dental checkup can tell.

Does mouthwash cure bad breath?

No. Most mouthwashes cover the smell for a short time. An antibacterial rinse can reduce odour-causing bacteria, but the lasting fix is removing the cause, such as plaque, tartar, a coated tongue, or gum disease.

Can bad breath be a sign of a health problem?

Usually, it starts in the mouth. Ongoing bad breath can be a sign of gum disease or a dental infection and, less often, of a condition elsewhere in the body, such as acid reflux or tonsillitis. See your dentist first, and see your doctor if no cause is found in your mouth.

Book a Checkup at Green Apple Dental

If bad breath keeps coming back, a checkup and cleaning is the quickest way to find the cause. Visit us at our Fleetwood clinic or Newton clinic in Surrey, or book online.