What causes bad breath?
Persistent bad breath (halitosis) is usually caused by bacteria in the mouth —
most often from gum disease, food trapped between teeth, or a coated tongue. Contrary to popular
belief, it rarely comes from the stomach.
Common causes
- Gum disease — the most common cause of ongoing bad breath. See our gum disease page.
- Poor cleaning between teeth — trapped food decays and smells.
- Coated tongue — bacteria collect on the back of the tongue.
- Dry mouth — saliva naturally cleans the mouth; without it, odour builds. See dry mouth.
- Smoking — causes its own odour and dramatically increases gum disease risk.
- Foods — garlic, onion and spices cause temporary odour that passes within a day.
- Medical causes — occasionally sinus, throat or other conditions are responsible.
How to fix it
- Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth every day.
- Brush or scrape your tongue gently, especially towards the back.
- Drink plenty of water and chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva.
- Cut down on smoking and strong-smelling foods — or ideally, quit smoking.
- Book a check-up — if gum disease is the cause, mints and mouthwash only mask it while the
underlying problem gets worse.
A quick self-test: lick the inside of your wrist, let it dry for a
few seconds, then smell it. That's roughly how your breath smells to others.
Embarrassed to mention it? Don't be — we deal with it every day and there's nearly always a
simple fix. Call us on 0141 554 0499.
