I have bad breath, how can I get rid of this?

Bad breath or halitosis is caused by a build up of bacteria in your mouth which causes an unpleasant odour. This is something that you may have noticed as you breathe out or speak but in many cases, you are likely to be unaware of this problem.

Bad breath can be caused by food deposits, smoking, ‘crash diets’, gum disease and medical conditions such as sinusitis.

Regular brushing and flossing can help as can a good mouthwash. It is also worth visiting your dentist as he/she can check your teeth to see if there is an underlying cause.

Tongue cleaning is another useful measure and is discussed in more detail in our halitosis section.

Dental Hygiene Index:

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• What is dental hygiene?
• Why is it important?
• What does it involve?
• Why do I need to visit the dentist every 6 months?
• I don’t like visiting the dentist so what can I do?
• What is the best toothbrush to use?
• What is ‘flossing’?
• Does an antiseptic mouthwash help?

• What is a ‘dental clean?’
• Which toothpaste should I use?
• I have bad breath, how can I get rid of this?
• What is ‘gum disease?’
• Teeth Brushing
• The ‘Scale and Polish’ Procedure
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Hygiene Products

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