Your dentist will tell you if you have bad breath. There are many causes of bad breath, also referred to as halitosis, from diet and smoking to poor oral hygiene and gum disease or infection. If you are attending your dentist every 6 months as recommended they will assess the source of your bad breath and will let you know how you can address it. If you have been experiencing long-term or severe halitosis, it may be a sign of more serious oral health issues, and in these instances, your dentist will be able to identify and treat this bad breath cause permanently. Prevention of bad breath is key, and in mild cases, bad breath can be treated at home with prescriptive oral care solutions and a good oral care routine, which your dentist can advise you on. When it comes to treating bad breath, there are some simple, achievable tools you can use daily, which we will identify below.

Bad Breath Treatment

Maintaining Good Daily Oral Care

One of the most effective ways to treat halitosis is by establishing good oral care at home. Poor oral hygiene is one of the main causes of mild and temporary halitosis and, with the right oral care routine, it can easily be alleviated and combatted. 

Brushing teeth and gums twice daily for 2 minutes each time is essential and will ensure that odour-causing bacteria are eliminated daily. We recommend using a Sonic Toothbrush for optimal cleaning and oxygen delivery to all areas of the mouth, plus with a built-in 2-minute timer, you can always be sure that your teeth and gums are receiving the best clean possible.

Our Bad Breath Kit includes toothpaste for gum health, foaming mouthwash for bad breath and bad breath spray - everything you need to combat bad breath. 

Flossing teeth daily is also essential for bad breath treatment. A Water Flosser is a great alternative to dental floss as it efficiently cleans teeth and gums. Finally, using mouthwash after meals will help combat the bacteria that lead to halitosis. When gums and teeth are clean and healthy, bad breath can be prevented effectively.

If you are maintaining good oral care daily and follow the steps above but are still experiencing persistent bad breath, you should seek advice and treatment from your dentist. In some cases, long-term or severe halitosis can be a sign of gum disease or tooth decay, both of which require professional treatment. Only through professional treatment for these oral care issues can you prevent bad breath, halitosis, or oral malodor permanently.

Active Ingredients

When preventing bad breath at home always ensure your oral care solutions contain clinically proven, active ingredients. These “actives” will work to protect tooth and gum health and will prevent and target halitosis-causing bacteria and plaque. Look for formulations that are clinically proven, clean, and include active ingredients like Chlorhexidine and Fluoride to combat the bacteria that cause bad breath. As dentists, we never recommend the use of natural toothpaste that doesn’t include active ingredients as they won’t target oral care concerns and can harm your overall oral health. What is included in your toothpaste is just as important as what is not included. Never use toothpaste, dental floss, or mouthwash formulas that contain health-damaging ingredients like sulphates, microbeads, palm oils, parabens, triclosan, DEA, or SLS when preventing bad breath. 

Prescriptive Oral Care 

Understanding that every person’s oral care needs are individual means choosing oral care solutions that are tailor-made to combat your specific needs is essential. The more prescriptive your oral care solutions are, the better results you will see in your oral health. Choose a toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash that have been clinically formulated to combat bad breath to prevent halitosis. 

Avoid Nicotine Use 

Smoking causes smoker's breath. Firstly, nicotine use is linked to gum disease which can cause severe halitosis and other oral care issues, Smoking also dries out the mouth and affects saliva production, both of which contribute to bad breath. Though halitosis can be managed by maintaining a good oral care routine, only giving up smoking will prevent oral malodour permanently.

Assess Your Diet 

Diet can often be the cause of bad breath as certain foods and drinks can trigger bad breath. Avoid garlic and onion, cheese, tinned fish, and citrus fruits to mitigate bad breath, or combat these foods using an active ingredient, alcohol-free mouthwash after meals. Alcohol and coffee affect saliva production and dehydrate the mouth causing mild, short-term halitosis. Make sure you stay hydrated when drinking these liquids to help prevent bad breath after consumption.