Your dentist will likely smell both the breath from your mouth and the breath from your nose and rate the odor on a scale.
Ask the dentist
A halimeter is a device that measures the sulfur concentration of a person's breath, and most dentist offices use them to test for smelly breath. A person can get a dental checkup and confirm if they have halitosis.
Need to check how your breath smells quickly? Try the sniff test—there are a couple of ways to do it. If you lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment, then take a whiff, you should be able to get an idea if your breath has an odor too. Another method is to floss toward the back of your mouth, then smell the floss.
Plaque and tartar build-up is one of the main causes of bad breath, which makes sense considering plaque is essentially a film of bacteria. By removing the plaque and tartar during a dental cleaning procedure, the dentist or hygienist is often able to improve the patient's breath as well.
Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider.
A deep dental cleaning can sometimes relieve the problem, but treating halitosis permanently requires treating the underlying causes. Improve your oral cleaning habits to make bad breath less chronic and severe.
Cavities and gum disease
The bacteria that cause bad breath can hide in cavities in your teeth. This makes it difficult to get rid of the bacteria when you're brushing your teeth because it's hidden in places that you can't reach. Similarly, these bacteria can hide in deep pockets caused by gum disease.
"Most people do have bad breath and just do not know it," he says. Walking around with bad breath is obviously something that most people would prefer to avoid. But before you can cure bad breath, you need to be able to tell if you have it.
However, many people may be too embarrassed to ask a loved one if the problem needs to be addressed. Another possible reason is our natural inability to actually smell our own breath, caused by an opening in the back of the mouth behind the soft palate, called the pharynx, which connects it to the nose.
Bad breath can't be passed on to another person via kissing.
Everyone gets bad breath from time to time — especially after eating garlic, onions or other strong foods. But bad breath that doesn't go away (chronic halitosis) could mean you have an oral health issue or a condition that's affecting another part of your body. Halitosis is a symptom of many different conditions.
Halitosis is caused by sulphur-producing bacteria in the tongue and throat. The major causes include a dry mouth caused by certain foods, smoking, poor oral hygiene and a coated tongue. The treatment of halitosis will depend on the underlying cause.
It can be frustrating if you find yourself asking, “Why does my breath stink after brushing?” Removing food particles by brushing twice daily is essential in preventing the accumulation of bacteria, which leave sulfur compounds. This sulfur can create bad breath if you don't remove it through brushing.
A regular bad smell or taste after flossing could indicate that you have a dental problem, especially if you've noticed that your breath smells less than pleasant at other times. For example, you could have hidden decay on a tooth or problems with your gums.
In most cases, however, bad breath can't be cured with a one-time fix. When bad breath is a result of poor oral hygiene or diet, it requires consistent self-care to keep it at bay.
Generally speaking, the best way to permanently end bad breath is by having a good dental hygiene routine. That includes: Brushing your teeth after every meal. Flossing your teeth at least twice per day.
The research published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene has shown that drinking or rinsing the mouth with a glass of water helped remove up to 60 per cent of the substances which contribute to bad breath1.
Let them know gently.
Some ideas for considerate, compassionate conversation starters include: “I noticed something, and I'm not sure if you're aware, but your breath smells a bit off." “Sorry to mention this, but you have some bad breath right now, and I really don't want anyone else to say anything to you about it.”
You could simply tell them that their breath is smelly, directly but politely. Bring up this sensitive topic with compassion and care, especially if it is someone close to you or you're worried about making them upset.
Halitophobia: The Fear of Having Bad Breath.
“Everyone has morning breath to some degree,” says Sally J. Cram, DDS, a periodontist in the Washington, D.C., area and a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association. Here's the simple reason why: When you sleep, your mouth dries out. When your mouth dries out, odor-producing bacteria proliferate.
Bad Breath and Relationships. Bad breath and relationships are similar to oil and water: they don't mix. Halitosis can put a severe strain on all types of relationships, be it social, personal or intimate. And bad breath can be a key factor when beginning a new relationship or keeping one going.