Bad Breath Cure? Understanding the Common Causes

For most people, bad breath often relates to everyday oral hygiene habits such as brushing, flossing, and sometimes the use of mouthwash. With sound oral hygiene, many people feel more confident in close social situations.

When to get checked: If bad breath persists for more than a couple of weeks despite consistent brushing, flossing, tongue cleaning, and hydration, it is often a sign of a dental problem (such as gum disease, tooth decay, or an infection) and should be assessed by a dentist or GP to identify the cause.

Halitosis (Bad Breath) Causes

Different medical definitions are available but it basically means bad breath. So what causes halitosis and how do we cure it?

Treatment depends on where the malodour is coming from in our breathing system. It could be from the stomach, sinuses, throat, tonsils or from the mouth.

From inside the mouth

The greatest percentage of halitosis comes from inside the mouth, on the tongue and around the teeth under the gums. The problem is exacerbated by having a dry mouth because you get fewer of the cleansing benefits of saliva and water.

Any food that gets trapped under the gums, between the teeth or under the papillary surface of the tongue will degrade down to sulfide compounds like hydrogen sulfide or mercaptan. This has that rotten egg smell and must be eliminated.

These smells commonly relate to plaque and debris on the tongue and teeth, which is why cleaning of the mouth and regular dental care are often discussed in relation to halitosis.

From the stomach

A small percentage of problem breath can be related to reflux or other gastrointestinal issues, but stomach causes are uncommon and burping or reflux symptoms do not reliably identify the source.

Medical assessment may be useful where a non-oral cause is suspected. Foods with strong odors such as onions and garlic are also commonly associated with temporary breath changes.

Medical conditions

Sometimes the foul odor comes from medical conditions such as chronic sinusitis and kidney failure. Addressing the underlying condition is generally required before the odor improves.

Mouthwash Help

It’s important to know that most mouth washes and breath mints are largely cosmetic and might only work for about 5 minutes. In fact, if the mouth wash has alcohol in it, the problem is likely to get worse over time as the alcohol disrupts the microbial balance in your mouth. Some dentists recommending using no mouth wash at all.

Mouth rinses containing chlorine dioxide have, however, been shown in some studies to reduce odor-causing sulfur compounds and temporarily improve bad breath symptoms, but they do not cure underlying causes such as gum disease or tooth infection.

As advised by ADA, other antimicrobials that serve as active ingredients in mouthwash are chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride and essential oils such as eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate and thymol.

Many people use mouthwash after brushing their teeth, though this may not be the best idea. The fluoride in toothpaste helps protect against tooth decay, and rinsing immediately afterward removes much of it. Some people instead space mouthwash use at a different time of day.

Flossing, Brushing and Scraping

Flossing, tongue cleaning and brushing are commonly discussed as ways people manage the food particles and plaque associated with halitosis. Each relates to a different area of the mouth: the outer tooth surfaces, the tongue and the spaces between teeth.

After brushing, people often simply spit out the toothpaste foam rather than rinsing immediately, as rinsing washes away some of the remaining fluoride. Rinsing may instead occur at another point in a routine.

Electrical can be more effective

Studies show that, if used correctly, an electric toothbrush removes plaque and improves gum tissue more effectively than a manual model. It may also be easier to use if you have arthritis or other weakness in your hands.

An electric flosser has a tiny rotating filament protruding from a pencil-like shaft and you place this near the spaces between your teeth. They’re reckoned to be about as effective as manual flossing. An electric flosser is much more expensive than regular dental floss but, like the electric toothbrush, it’s easier to use.

The Mayo doctors seem less keen on water irrigation devices — these direct a narrow stream of water from the tip of the device. They remove food particles but not decay-causing plaque, which is the main problem in tooth and gum decay.

Brushing, flossing, adequate fluoride and regular dental checks are commonly cited as part of maintaining oral health over time. The choice of kit you use to carry out your daily routine is yours.

Final Thoughts About Curing Bad Breath

While bad breath seems like mainly a social problem, it can also indicate periodontal disease. A dental professional can help identify the cause and discuss possible management. The solution is often straightforward.