5 things you didn’t know could cause bad breath
If you’re worried that you have bad breath, or you’ve had the awkward chat where a friend informs you of the fact, it’s fairly mortifying. Nobody wants to be the person that people avoid chatting to, or worse, avoid altogether.
Bad breath should not be ignored, and in fact can be a sign of (curable) disease. So be sure to visit the doctor or dentist if you have concerns that any of these factors could be causing your bad breath.
1. You might need to see the dentist
Naturally it is expected that you are brushing and flossing regularly, but you still need regular teeth cleaning at the dentist too. They use tools that can between the teeth, where food particles and plaque can hide. These can cause bad breath and you might just find that a simple clean is all you needed to get rid of it. The dentist can also double check that you don’t have any infections or gum disease that could also cause breath issues.
2. You could have tonsillitis
Bad breath is often a sign that something is wrong in your mouth or throat – quite often it’s tonsillitis. A quick visit to the doctor will tell you if this is the problem, and you’ll most likely have a sore throat to go with it. This can also occur when you are just recovering from illness.
3. You suffer from dry mouth
There are lots of causes of dry mouth, specifically conditions like sleep apnoea or being overweight, and different types of medication. The dryness is caused by a lack of saliva, which is needed to wash away dead cells in the mouth and food particles, which can cause bad breath.
4. You might be eating too much sugar
Too much sugar can cause the bacteria in our mouth to grow and multiply. Try to reduce how much sugar you eat as part of a healthy diet anyway, but if you absolutely need some soft drink or gum, ensure it is sugar free.
5. You could be drinking too much alcohol
Bad breath can also be a sign of damage to the stomach and digestive system, mouth or oesophagus, which is a common concern for people that drink to excess. Alcohol affects the body in many ways, and if your consumption is causing health issues it is worth addressing sooner rather than later.
Have you ever had bad breath for one of these reasons? Did it go away when you treated the cause?