Oral health tips: Get rid of bad breath

by Dr Italo Carpes Moraes

Most of the mouthwashes only mask the unpleasant smell but some complex factores can determine whether you will have pleasant breath or not...

Whether you have fresh breath is determined by both oral and other factors.

The most common cause is deficient oral hygiene and consequent formation of tongue coating and dental plaque.

It is quite common to think that good oral hygiene simply means brushing after food. However, the most important is cleaning all bacteria from the dental surface, especially close to the gums. If you do not use floss every day to disrupt the bacteria in the interdental areas, you will certainly have bad breath. 

Morning breath is not considered a medical problem but for some people it can be an area of embarrassment. The cause is mild hypoglycaemia (reduction of blood sugar), the reduced salivary flow during sleep, and the increase in more pathogenic bacterial species. These microorganisms act on the natura balance of oral mucous and saliva proteins, generating unpleasant smells.

Poorly fitted dentures and defective restorations are also sources of bad breath as they can increase plaque retention.

Bad breath can also be caused by some medical problems. Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a condition that affects the flow of saliva. This increases the bacteria accumulation in the mouth leading to bad breath. It can be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems or by continued mouth breathing. Other medical conditions include throat, nose or lungs infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, diabetes, liver or kidney problems. 

If you have bad breath, you will need to make come changes in the way you clean your teeth and gums in order to keep your mouth healthy and fresh.

Visit your dentist so they can conduct an evaluation to find the cause of your bad breath, clean all those areas that are difficult to reach and research the best way to keep your mouth clean.

Most mouthwashes only mask the bad breath for a short time. Though some mouthwashes are specially formulated to match the volatile sulfuric compounds responsible for bad breath, but they do not treat the underlying problem.

One of the warning signs of gum disease is that you always have bad breath or bad taste in the mouth, usually associated with bleeding when brushing or flossing. Again, your dentist will be able to diagnose and treat the problem. The sooner the problems are found, the more effective any treatment will be. 

Brush your teeth and gums effectively at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Do not forget to brush your tongue as well. Floss once a day for cleaning the bacterias from the interdental surface in all areas. An interdental brush can be used as an alternative or supplement to dental floss to clean bacterias between the teeth.

Remember that cleaning between the teeth means cleaning bacteria, not only food scraps.