Bad breath or halitosis is something many of us worry about having as no one likes to offend! Most of us have it at least occasionally due to eating something that’s highly flavoured, but this quickly passes as soon as the food has been eliminated from the body. Proper halitosis is quite another matter. The easiest way to tell whether or not you have bad breath is to simply ask a friend or relative to tell you the truth. The next thing to do is to try and find out what’s causing it. Common reasons for bad breath include:

• Bacteria building up in the mouth can cause infections and inflammation, and can create sulfurous odours.
• Most cases of bad breath are due to some kind of oral disease or inflammation. One of the most common reasons is gum disease, and bad breath can be one of the first symptoms.
• Poor oral hygiene can result in pieces of food becoming trapped in between the teeth which will gradually begin to rot and smell.
• Failing to clean dental braces or dentures properly can also cause bad breath as the appliances are likely to be covered in plaque bacteria and old food.

Bad breath can also be due to certain medical conditions including infections of the respiratory tract, acid reflux, bronchitis and diabetes. If you’ve gently been informed by someone that your breath is less than fresh then why not make an appointment to come and see us at Leeds City Dentalcare? An appointment with Dr. David Brown or another Leeds dentist should help discover the reason for your halitosis, and then we can work with you on clearing up the problem. If we can’t discover any reason for your bad breath then we might recommend you visit your doctor, just to make sure there isn’t any underlying medical cause. There are lots of different things you can do to improve your breath, and which will help prevent you from developing any problems in the first place.

Improve your Oral Hygiene Routine

One of the most essential is simply to practice good oral hygiene. Our Dental Leeds surgery recommends all our patients brush at least twice a day and floss once a day. Good quality fluoride toothpaste should help keep the teeth and gums clean, and if you want to use a mouthwash it might be worth choosing one that contains antibacterial agents. These will help fight bacteria that could cause noxious smells.

Regularly cleaning your tongue will help remove bacteria and food particles, and this can either be done with your toothbrush or by using a proper tongue scraper. If you’re not sure how to brush correctly or how to floss then ask one of our hygienists for a quick demonstration.

Visit Our Leeds Surgery for Checkups and Cleanings

Visiting our Leeds surgery every six months or so for regular checkups and cleanings will help make sure you don’t have any underlying dental problems. Getting early treatment for gum disease on Leeds or tooth decay will help keep your breath fresh. Regular cleanings are a great way to freshen up your smile as they help remove all the hardened plaque bacteria that build up on the teeth.

There’s certainly no need to put up with bad breath, and preventative dental care at our Leeds surgery can help prevent this problem from occurring in the first place.