• The causes of bad breath include decaying teeth, trapped particles of stale food infections of the nasal cavity or lungs and uncontrolled diabetes. Mouthwash does not remove the causes of bad breath, it can only mask the odour.
  
• To keep your breath fresh and your teeth clean and free from decay, you should brush your teeth thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste at least once a day, preferably just before going to bed. However, if you have a breath problem, brush your teeth after every meal. Products containing fluoride have been shown to reduce decay by about 25 per cent when used regularly.
  
• The best kind of toothbrush is one with a small flat head of medium-soft nylon bristles. You should start brushing at a different place every time you clean your teeth. Otherwise, you may find yourself cleaning the same areas repeatedly, while leaving other areas uncleaned.
  
• When brushing your teeth, do not wet the brush first. Put a small dab of paste on to a dry toothbrush. The saliva in your mouth will provide all the moisture needed. Too much paste creates too much frothing, which hampers cleaning. Try to remove all the plaque (the sticky film that forms on the teeth and gums) from the backs, front and biting surfaces of the teeth and gum margins and from between the teeth.
  
• However, regular brushing alone will not remove all the plaque from between the teeth. Supplement it by using dental floss or for people with clear gaps – wooden toothpicks. Get the dentist’s advice before trying either because used incorrectly, they can damage the gums.
  
• Bad breath can also be caused by such foods as garlic or onions. Residual oils from these foods pass into the bloodstream and through the lungs; and the odour is expelled with each breath. So if, you suffer from bad breath, it is advisable to avoid these foods.
  
• If, after making sure your teeth are as clean as can be and after avoiding the foods mentioned above you still suffer from bad breath, then you may have an infection of the nasal cavity or lungs or may be suffering from diabetes. You need to consult a doctor for a medical examination and treatment if your bad breath is caused by any of these conditions.

If you would like to know more about this topic or to consult us, please feel free to visit our clinic or contact us by phone -

(020) 3874658 or 0722 784882.

Dr. Oliver Wala