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Bad breath can affect people’s confidence in every aspect of their life, but it’s not something you just have to live with.
Express.co.uk spoke to Dr. Harold Katz, a bacteriologist Dr. Harold Katz, about the cause of bad breath and how to get rid of it.
What is the main cause of bad breath?
Bad breath is caused by unfriendly bacteria in the mouth, however, some people have a higher level of it than others making them more prone to halitosis. These organisms are not viruses or hostile germs, nor are they infectious, but they do produce nasty smelling sulphur which is the root cause of breath odour.
How can you get rid of it?
There are a number of ways you can keep your breath smelling sweet at all times –
- Brush and floss regularly but avoid harsh soap in toothpaste. Brushing helps eradicate the plaque and bacteria on your teeth, however some toothpaste contains sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), a soapy detergent that creates foam but has no cleaning benefit. The Breath Company toothpaste does not contain SLS. Flossing is an extra step, but it’s an important one, as it helps gets in between the teeth where toothbrushes sometimes miss.
- Avoid smoking, it quickly dries out the mouth and introduces nicotine and tar, which contributes to making an even more complex unpleasant odour.
- We have all been told that water is good for us, but did you know that it can help combat bad breath too? Use a mouthwash like the Breath Company Oral rinse.
The NHS advises the most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene.
Watch what you eat
Diet is also a contributory factor in keeping breath smelling sweet. Bacteria love proteins and most foods are packed with the proteins that bad-breath-related bacteria will rapidly convert to a smelly waste. That is why bad breath can occur no matter what you eat.
There are obviously some foods that have a tendency to cause bad breath more than others.
Avoid foods like onions, garlic and the nation’s favourite…curry, if you are worried about your breath.
Acidic foods and beverages like tomatoes, pineapple, citrus and coffee contain high levels of acids which cause bacteria to reproduce more rapidly.
Chocolate is a traditional gift on Valentines Day, but always go for dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. Milk Chocolate contains more sugar and dairy (dense proteins) than dark chocolate. Both sugar and dairy proteins provide fuel to the bad breath bugs.
What is a good remedy for bad breath?
Bad breath is often the result of a dry mouth. There are a number of reasons why we get a dry mouth, common medications, medical conditions, anxiety or stress, alcohol etc.
The Breath Company have just introduced their brand new Dry Mouth Oral Rinse, with natural enzymes, moisturisers and saliva stimulant to keep the mouth moist for hours and prevent reoccurrence. Keeping your tongue in tip top condition too will help.
For a clean tongue use a tongue scraper or toothbrush and gently apply some toothpaste to the tongue’s surface. This will help remove waste and odour from the bacteria that live deep in the tongue’s papillae or fibres while soothing tongue irritation. Also cut down on the sugar, bacteria feeds on it!
It comes after Express.co.uk defined five types of gut – and how you can identify which you have.