Bad breath, or halitosis, is unpleasant, embarrassing, and fairly common.

There are many factors which can cause bad breath, but over 80% of the time the odors originate in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene – lack of proper flossing and brushing – can lead to a build up of food particles and debris around the teeth. As the food particles break down, bacteria are forming and giving off by products and the odor increases.

One main area where food particles and bacteria accumulate is on the surface of the tongue. As film forms over the tongue it traps the anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that thrive in an oxygen free environment). These anaerobic bacteria give off a sulfur compound which can smell like rotten eggs.

Cleaning the film and bacteria off of the tongue twice a day can help eliminate most mouth odors. This cleaning can be done with the edge of a teaspoon or a plastic tongue scraper.

Other factors that can cause mouth odors are the type of foods eaten (garlic, onions, fish, cheese, etc.) smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption.

Some medications can cause dry mouth. Reduced saliva flow allows more food particles and bacteria to accumulate thus leading to mouth odors. Reduced saliva flow at night is why people will experience “morning bad breath.”

A few other things that can cause breath odors are some cancers and other metabolic disorders. Diabetes and kidney or liver failure can cause a fishy odor and uncontrolled diabetes can lead to a fruity smell. GERD (reflux disease) can cause a strong vomit-like odor.

Sinus problems, post nasal drip, etc. can lead to bad breath. Also tonsil stones, which are an accumulation of food and bacteria in hard knots on the tonsils will stink.

It’s very difficult to self-test for bad breath. Ask someone who is close to you to give you an honest answer about your breath. If you believe you have bad breath try first to improve your dental hygiene – floss, brush, and scrape your tongue at least twice per day. Use a mouth wash to kill bacteria. Chew sugarless gum with xylitol to increase saliva flow.

Make sure to visit your dentist on a regular basis to ensure your don’t have areas of decay or gum disease.

Proper oral hygiene is an important part of a healthy life. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Recent studies are proving oral health has more to do with over all health than was commonly thought. Your oral health can affect diseases such as Diabetes and Heart Disease. Making oral hygiene as efficient as possible promotes follow through. When something is too hard or takes too much time, we don’t want to do it. Here are the top 10 tips to make it easier and more productive:

1. Use a timer. It’s important to brush for a full 2 minutes. Using a timer allows you to brush for the exact amount of time and not worry about brushing for too little or too much time.

2. Use a floss aid. Regular floss is hard for some people to use, which means it is commonly not used. There are numerous floss aids on the market that make flossing quick, easy, and just as effective as regular floss. A popular flosser is the Reach Access Flosser.

3. Make it a habit. Pick a time to brush your teeth every day. A good example is right when you wake up and right before you go to bed. If you brush, floss, and rinse at the same time every day you are less likely to forget.

4. Start in the same spot every time. Choose one part of you mouth to start brushing in every time. For example, start with the upper right and work your way around your mouth. If you start in the same spot every time you’ll be less likely to forget to brush one area.

5. Avoid sports drinks. A new study published in RDH shows sports and energy drinks are just as bad for your teeth, or worse, than juice and soda. Try to limit these beverages to when needed (after strenuous physical activity), use a straw to limit exposure to tooth enamel, and rinse with water afterward.

6. Use mouth wash for 30 seconds. It is unnecessary to rinse for any longer than 30 seconds. That is all the time you need to kill the bacteria in your mouth.

7. Don’t brush too hard. Brushing harder won’t help remove more plaque. It may even abrade your enamel and cause damage to your gums. Using a soft bristled toothbrush will also help avoid abrasion.

8. Check for the ADA seal. We encourage patients to choose any toothpaste they prefer, as long as it has the ADA seal. By choosing an ADA approved product you can be sure it has been thoroughly tested to be safe and effective.

9. Chew sugar-free gum. Chewing sugar-free gum after eating can help reduce the amount of acid in the mouth and dislodge particles on and between the teeth. However, if you have TMJ, gum chewing is not recommended.

10. Ask for personalized suggestions. Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist or hygienist for personalized recommendations to make taking care of your oral health more productive.

It’s important to know how to brush and floss your teeth the correct way. In this video Deb reviews proper oral hygiene and how to use various brushes, flosses, and other tools you can use to keep your mouth healthy.