Everyone at some point in their life has suffered from bad breath. Even if it is after eating something with garlic in it!

And while most people can chew on some gum and forget about it, there is a select group of the population of dental patients who suffer from recurring bad breath, known as halitosis. But rather than being a diagnosis to itself, halitosis or chronic bad breath is usually a sign that something is amiss in your mouth.

At Amsel and Wilkins, our dentist in Banbury sees multiple patients each day who complain of having chronic bad breath. And as we know all there is to know about the mouth, we are always willing and able to offer our patients practical solutions, so they can feel confident when giving talks or going on dates. Great stuff!

So, what causes halitosis? Here are the top 5 culprits as identified by our dentist in Banbury.

Gum disease

One of the most serious and preventable causes of halitosis according to our dentist in Banbury is gum disease.

As the gums become inflamed due to the accumulation of bacteria, they begin to emit offensive odours, thus causing bad breath that will not abate. Should we spot this when you attend our surgery for a check-up, we will aim to treat your gum disease with a scale and polish and may suggest an antibacterial mouthwash or toothpaste.

Diet

OK, so we already mentioned how most people who are fans of garlic may suffer from bad breath more regularly than those who aren’t, but if left unchecked, it can lead to some very strong smelling breath!

Now we are not saying that you need to cut out all the strong-smelling foods from your diet, but we will advise you to eat more fruits, nuts and herbs. All of these are high in water, which can also help eliminate the dehydration aspect of halitosis too, while also providing you with a more varied diet. So, good news all around!

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Do you suffer from heartburn? Have you been diagnosed with acid reflux?

If the answer is yes, then you are at a higher risk of developing chronic halitosis. This is because, well, the acid that is in your mouth isn’t supposed to be there, and thus it emits an offensive odour.

If you have a diagnosis of GERD, we will aim to protect your teeth from excess acid by using a fluoride sealant. But if we suspect GERD and you haven’t been formally diagnosed, we may also advise you to talk to your general practitioner.

Lifestyle

How do diet and lifestyle differ?

Well, if you smoke tobacco or drink alcohol, you are also more likely to suffer from halitosis. And while we would never advise you to cut garlic out of your diet, our team is big on smoking cessation as it is linked to oral cancer.

So, if you suffer from halitosis and you smoke, we can help you by providing smoking cessation. If you drink excessively, we will usually advise you to seek medical help.

Infection

And finally, if you have halitosis that has sprung up suddenly, this may be due to an oral infection.

As such, we will perform x-rays and examinations to identify where it is and treat it!