Bad breath is common, awkward to raise, and usually very fixable once you know the cause. Mints and gum only mask it, so here is how to deal with the source rather than the symptom.
The vast majority of bad breath starts in the mouth. Bacteria break down trapped food and cells and release smelly sulphur compounds, and they gather most on the back of the tongue and between the teeth. The usual culprits are a coated tongue, gum disease, decay, food stuck between teeth, and dry mouth, which lets those bacteria thrive.
Mints, gum and mouthwash mask the smell for a few minutes but do nothing about the bacteria producing it. Alcohol-based mouthwashes can even make things worse by drying the mouth out. To fix bad breath you have to remove the source, not cover it.
Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily, because that is where a lot of the odour hides. Gently clean your tongue with your brush or a tongue scraper, stay well hydrated to keep saliva flowing, and chew sugar-free gum after meals. Cutting back on smoking and alcohol helps too.
Persistent bad breath despite good habits usually points to gum disease, a build-up of tartar, decay or an old leaking filling, all of which trap bacteria. A check-up and clean finds and fixes the cause, and often clears the problem that no amount of brushing at home could.
Occasionally bad breath comes from outside the mouth, such as sinus infections, reflux or other medical conditions. If your mouth is healthy but the problem persists, we will let you know it is worth seeing your GP.
Around nine in ten cases start in the mouth, where bacteria on the tongue and between the teeth break down food and release smelly sulphur compounds. Gum disease, decay and dry mouth are common contributors.
A lot of odour comes from the back of the tongue and between the teeth, which brushing alone can miss. Cleaning your tongue, flossing, and treating any gum disease or decay usually makes the difference.
No, it only masks it briefly, and alcohol-based rinses can dry the mouth and make it worse. Removing the source through good cleaning and a professional check-up is what actually resolves it.
If it persists despite good brushing, flossing and tongue cleaning, see a dentist to check for gum disease, tartar or decay. If your mouth is healthy but it continues, your GP can look at other causes.