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Bad breath can be an irritation in everyday life and it can often be difficult to mask even with mints and breath freshener. Although certain foods can leave your breath smelling, the real cause of chronic bad breath is usually something more serious.

The Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, is usually caused by an irregular bacteria in the mouth. For this reason it can be an indicator that something needs to be addressed, such as decay, infection, poor hygiene or even pneumonia, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems.

Here are some tips for keeping your breath fresh.

Avoiding chronic bad breath is easy if you keep you maintain your oral hygiene at a high standard. Visiting your hygienist can help to remove plaque that sits in hard to reach areas and could be causing inflammation and bad breath.

2 - Smoking

It's no surprise that smoking causes your breath to smell. Not only does it leave the lingering smell of tobacco but it also raises your risk of infection and is counter-productive to keeping your gums healthy.

3 - Drinking Water

Keeping hydrated helps your mouth produce saliva to wash away food particles and can also prevent drinks like coffee from leaving acids in your mouth that increase the amount of bacteria.

4 - Avoiding some Foods

Yes, garlic and onions! but also tuna, pizza and pasta. The main component to watch out for is pungent oils. However, you shouldn't have to limit your diet to avoid bad breath. In this instance, a breath mint should suffice to eliminate the odour.

5 - General Health

If none of these factors are contributing to your breath and it's still smelling unpleasant, it might be time to consult your GP and get to the root of the problem. As discussed already, bad breath is a symptom of many illnesses in parts of the body beside mouth.

Book your Hygiene Appointment - (01) 284 2570