Bad Breath

Make sure, before you see your dentist, that you have not done anything to hide the normal smell of your breath. Do not smoke, chew any gum or use a mouth rinse, and avoid any sort of perfume; do not clean your teeth immediately before your appointment. Your dentist might use a plastic spoon to gently scrape the back of your tongue and test the smell. Some instruments measure sulphur compounds in the mouth or swelling around the gums.

Good oral hygiene will usually be the answer to a bad-breath problem. A scale and polish from your dentist or hygienist makes it easier for you to keep your mouth clean at home.

• Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Use floss or other oral hygiene aids if your dentist or hygienist recommends them. You can check bad breath by smelling the floss after you have used it. If there is a smell from a particular part of the mouth, clean that area with special care.
• Gently brush your tongue if it is heavily coated. This can be done gently with a toothbrush. Special plastic tongue scrapers can be bought from chemists.
• A mouth will smell less if it is moist. Chewing sugar-free gum can help with bad breath by increasing the flow of saliva. You might have a dry mouth because you breathe with your mouth open or because you are taking certain medicines.
• If you smoke, try to give up. As well as making your breath smell better, giving up smoking will keep your mouth and gums healthy and benefit your general health.