Smile and the world smiles back, but laugh out loud when you have bad breath and you may send people running

As a  Perth Dentist, in Nedlands Western Australia with over 25 years experience, I can offer the following tips about halitosis, contributing factors and remedies.

In many cases “bad breath” is simply “morning breath” that lasts all day. When dreaming our bodies are designed to prevent drooling, and our saliva stops flowing. The dead cells, food and bacteria all start fermenting and upon awakening …Voila! morning breath! If you skip breakfast, and run off to work, you can be certain you will be unpopular. Breakfast is one of the best ways to clean all the smelly debris off your tongue. It is best if you choose something like a crunchy bread roll, or wholewheat toast instead of soft white bread. An apple instead of a banana, crispy cereal instead of soft porridge…You know what I mean. After breakfast make sure you perform perfect oral hygiene.(read some of the other posts on my “Perth Dentists” website for more information) If you didn’t floss or clean between your teeth before bed, don’t skip it now, as that is a sure way to get periodontal disease and bad breath. Lastly scrape your tongue, making sure to reach the posterior third, in the centre, where most of the odour causing germs hide. Be careful not to injure the row of very large mushroom-like taste-buds back there! Some people can brush their tongue but I find it gags me, and I can do a better job with a specially designed scraper. Chew a piece of sugar-free gum, preferably sweetened with Xylitol, on your way to work. This stimulates saliva flow and also has a pleasant masking effect. Anything that dries out your mouth like stress, air conditioning, not drinking enough water, medication, alcohol containing mouthwashes, smoking and mouth breathing when you have a cold combined with “post-nasal-drip” assists the smell generating germs on the back third of your tongue. Chewing gum (as above) several times a day can increase your saliva flow rate, but only if you drink enough water, and stop or reduce drying medication (consult your GP first) Using a mouthwash with Chlorhexidine, for 2 consecutive days a week, can be beneficial. You can’t use just any product as some will stain your teeth. Also you can’t use it right after brushing with normal toothpaste as it reduces the effect. Don’t use it all the time.

This article is solely the professional and individual opinion of Perth Dentist, Dr. Clifford Yudelman in Nedlands, Western Australia and does not replace the professional guidance of your own personal dentist. He/she is the best person to counsel you on specific products for your specific situation. Please consult with them if you have any questions regarding anything mentioned in this article.

Bad breath problems are an embarrassing ailment and one that no one wishes to experience. However it is a common condition that thankfully can be treated effectively.

Some of the most commonly recommended home remedies for bad breath sufferers are not really that effective and do nothing to cure the underlying problem. These include things you may have already tried, such as:

Chewing gum.
Mints.
Peppermint mouthwash.

In fact the above remedies actually only mask the smell of your breath for a very short time. They certainly do not treat the cause and are not really a true remedy, only a way of masking the odors.

The main cause of bad breath problems are a build up of bacteria in your mouth. This can be on your tongue, teeth and your throat but the back of the tongue is the most likely place where bacteria will breed and cause the dreaded foul smell.

Chronic post nasal drip is another common cause of foul breath. This is when mucous falls from your nose down to the back of your throat.

One of the best home remedies for bad breath is to get rid of bacteria by using a tongue scraper. The tongue harbors a lot of bacteria, particularly right at the back. A quality stainless steel scraper will gently bring that debris forward, and it can then be washed off of the scraper. If you’ve never done this before, you will be surprised at how much bacteria comes off your tongue the first time. It is best to do this procedure first thing in the morning, before you’ve eaten or drank anything.

Avoiding particular foods can also help you to ward off halitosis. Foods like garlic and onion may cause a foul smell to occur. Some people have also had success with avoiding dairy products.

It goes without saying that brushing and flossing your teeth properly at least twice per day is a basic requirement for everyone, but especially for those that suffer from bad breath. If you can add tongue scraping into this routine then you will ensure that your mouth is truly clean.

There are also some medical conditions that are known to bring about bad breath problems. These can include acid reflux, sinus infections or liver problems.

Some people who suffer with chronic bad breath also have a condition known as tonsilloliths. These are commonly known as a tonsil stone and are smelly whitish/yellow lumps, which form within the tonsils. They are made up of mucous, sulfur-producing bacteria, post nasal drip, dead cells and food particles that collect in crypts within the tonsil region at the back of the throat. Eventually they dislodge and are either swallowed or coughed up into the mouth.

Now you may or may not suffer from tonsilloliths but a lot of people do and it is often linked with bad breath. A tonsil stone does give off an awful smell when squashed between the fingers and can be an unpleasant addition to bad breath problems.

If you are certain that your hygiene is excellent and you are in good health, but you are still noticing foul breath or tonsilloliths then there is an extremely effective product available that I personally use and highly recommend. It certainly made a difference to my life and was the only remedy that totally put a stop to my halitosis.