Brushing twice-daily with an antibacterial toothpaste such as Colgate Total, and interdental cleaning daily with floss, interdental brushes, picks or oral irrigation. Antibacterial toothpastes will assist in reducing bacteria which produce the VSCs that cause halitosis.
Fresh Breath Toothpastes
Sensodyne's range of extra fresh toothpastes for sensitive teeth are designed to deliver a crisp, clean flavor for fresh breath. Our breath freshening toothpastes also contain fluoride to protect against cavities and provide lasting sensitivity relief*.
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.
Reasons your breath smells even after brushing
“Poor oral hygiene and gum disease is a main culprit, tooth decay is another. But, the source of the bad smell is down to the bacteria living in our mouths.”
What is the treatment for halitosis? If the bad breath is due to improper oral healthcare, in most cases your dentist will treat the cause of the problem. If the cause is an underlying gum disease, the condition may be treated by your dentist. Or you may be referred to an oral specialist--in most cases, a periodontist.
Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
Some research suggests that our brain automatically filters out triggers or receptors that it deems to be non-threatening through a process called sensory adaptation. According to this theory, our nose may filter out any bad smells coming from the mouth because we have grown accustomed to our own odors.
The most common cause of halitosis is poor oral hygiene. Without proper oral hygiene — like brushing, flossing and routine dental cleanings — harmful bacteria invade your mouth and multiply out of control. This can lead to several oral health issues like halitosis, cavities and gum disease.
So it's no surprise that most cases of halitosis are associated with poor oral hygiene, gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, and dry mouth, a condition in which the salivary glands cannot make enough saliva to keep your mouth moist.
The mineral Zinc helps maintain a clean and bacteria free mouth, but many people find themselves in a zinc deficiency and therefore with increasingly bad breath.
Use Mouthwash
Despite extravagant claims from mouthwash companies (and a superficial “minty freshness” that's actually just masking your mouth's real odor), mouthwash can actually make bad breath worse. Some mouthwashes contain up to 25% alcohol, which dries out the mouth.
SmartMouth Original Activated Mouthwash for Bad Breath, Lasts 24 Hours, Fresh Mint, 16 Fl Oz, 3 Pack.
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.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Persistent acid reflux happens when stomach acid pushes up into the esophagus. This misplaced stomach acid may itself cause bad breath — or, because stomach acid erodes tooth enamel, it can lead to the crevices that trap food.
Brush your teeth for two to three minutes at least twice a day to remove plaque and food debris. It's important to know when to brush at breakfast time, and always brush your teeth before going to bed. Adding a brushing session with baking soda can reduce the acidity and the bacteria that cause bad breath to grow.
Some toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulphate, a soapy detergent that creates foam but has no cleaning benefit. The additive has recently been linked to serious side effects including canker sores (mouth ulcers). This is when even someone with great oral hygiene habits can quickly begin to smell offensive.
Bad breath can't be passed on to another person via kissing.
If you're worried you're one of these people, one trick is to lick your wrist, wait ten seconds, then sniff the patch you licked: If it smells, chances are, so does your breath. An even more reliable method, of course, is simply to ask someone. IS YOUR BATHROOM A MESS?
A person with kidney failure may have breath that smells like ammonia or urine. Serious liver disease can make breath smell musty or like garlic and rotten eggs. Compounds that are transported through the blood can also be released through your sweat glands. That can make your armpits and skin smell bad.