8th August will be Fresh Breath Day, yes believe it or not there is now an awareness day for breath. This may seem incredibly random, but it’s actually been great at raising awareness of the issues which cause bad breath. Don’t underestimate how difficult it can be living with this condition, it can lead to social anxiety and a fear of getting too close to people.
Bad breath (or halitosis) is believed to be suffered by up to 1 in 4 people and yet it is highly preventable and treatable.
Whilst many people simply try to mask it with mouthwashes, chewing gum or mints this is only a temporary fix, when really you should be getting to the root of the problem.
What are the causes of bad breath?
There are many factors which contribute to bad breath and some of the most obvious are food, tobacco, coffee and alcohol. It goes without saying that strong smelling meals like curries, or anything with a lot of onions or garlic will have an effect. This normally causes a short-term change in breath and most people will realise or even apologise for having just eaten something pungent.
What may be less obvious or visible is the effects of poor oral health, which leads to bacteria in your mouth and namely between the teeth or on the gums and tongue.
One of these devices which helps considerably is a tongue scraper, which are available in the practice. It will remove food debris from the rough surface of the tongue and help lower bacteria and therefore the chances of bad breath.
Can it be treated in the practice?
In most cases the simple answer is yes. There are a few exceptions of underlying medical issues like diabetes, tonsillitis or sinusitis which will require medical attention with your GP. Alternatively, if you have a cavity or other more serious dental issue then David will speak to you about this during your dental health check.
For everyone else we will monitor your oral health closely and recommend a suitable number of hygiene appointments for a deep clean of your teeth and mouth, and Annette or Maryam will also recommending which products you should be frequently using. This will help to lower the bacteria in your mouth and in turn improve your breath.
What do I do next?
If you have concerns regarding bad breath then please make an appointment with us as soon as possible where we will outline a treatment plan to help freshen your breath and restore your confidence.
