Diseases & Conditions

Bad Breath

Store shelves are overflowing with mints, mouthwashes and other products designed to help people combat and prevent bad breath. Yet these products help control bad breath (halitosis) only temporarily.

Certain foods, health conditions and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene. But, if simple self-care techniques don't solve the problem, you may want to see your dentist to be sure a more serious condition isn't causing your bad breath.

The precise kind of bad breath odor varies depending on the source or the underlying cause of the bad breath.

When to see a doctor
See your dentist if you have tried self-care techniques and have not had good results, and to be sure that you don't have a more serious condition that's causing your bad breath.

Try the following steps to improve or prevent bad breath:

• Brush your teeth after you eat. Keep a toothbrush at work to brush after eating. Be sure to brush at least twice a day, for two to three minutes at a time.
• Floss at least once a day. Proper flossing removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth.
• Brush your tongue. Giving your tongue a gentle brushing removes dead cells, bacteria and food debris. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a flexible tongue scraper. Try to clean as far back as you can without gagging because the bacteria tend to collect toward the back.
• Clean your dentures well. If you wear a bridge or a partial or complete denture, clean it thoroughly at least once a day or as directed by your dentist.
• Drink plenty of water. To keep your mouth moist, be sure to consume plenty of water — not coffee, soft drinks or alcohol. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates saliva, washing away food particles and bacteria. If you have chronic dry mouth, your dentist or doctor may additionally prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or an oral medication that stimulates the flow of saliva.
• Use a fairly new toothbrush. Change your toothbrush every three to four months, and choose a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Schedule regular dental checkups. At least twice a year, see your dentist to have your teeth or dentures examined and cleaned.
• Chew fresh parsley or suck on a sugarless mint. Doing so may temporarily improve bad breath.

You can teach your school-age children to brush and floss their teeth regularly and to brush their tongues to prevent bad breath. But, don't let children use mouthwash, because many mouthwash products contain alcohol and can pose a risk for children if swallowed.