why does my breath smell so bad?

Question

its really annoying. i brush my teeth twice a day, i gurgle water after every meal, and i eat mints and chew winterfresh gum whenever i feel that my breath is really bad. what should i do? my dad said it mite be gum disease or something and im not going to my dentist for a while so i have a problem

Answer 1

brush your tongue, the sides of your cheeks, and the roof of your mouth. i know it sounds silly and it will probably tickle, but it's where all the extra smells sit and fester.

swish with listerine silly, not water! and yes, chew sugar free gum, like orbit.

Answer 2

It could be your gums, teeth, tonsils, or bacteria on your tongue. Best to ask your dentist. If you've been taking good care of your teeth with the brushing and especially flossing, then it might be something else.

Here's something to read:

Whether you call it bad breath or halitosis, it’s an unpleasant condition that’s cause for embarrassment. Some people with bad breath aren’t even aware there’s a problem. If you’re concerned about bad breath, see your dentist. He or she can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, your dentist may prescribe anartificial saliva, or suggest using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake.

Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.

Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath.

Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat and make a list of medications you take. Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odors. Let your dentist know if you've had any surgery or illness since your last appointment.

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth.

Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist. If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse. A fluoride mouth rinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay.

Answer 3

go to the drug store and get hydrogen peroxide, that will make your mouth clean, but not very good smelling, so you should buy some mouthwash with either peroxide or alcohol in it, also look for a scraper, like they have at the dentist, very gently scrap the tooth around the gum line, and if it bleeds, you may want to do it on all your teeth, than rinse with water, that will desensitize your teeth and take away some tarter. When the gum stops bleeding, brush carefully, than brush you tounge and rinse with the mouth wash.

Answer 4

Brush your teeth and floss after everything you eat. Flossing is very important. Food particles get trapped between teeth causing bacteria growth thus producing foul breath. If that doesn't help go to the dentist to rule out gum disease or another health problem.

Answer 5

Bad breath is caused often because you haven't brushed and flossed well .If you don't keep teeth and gums free of the bacterial buildup, they'll start to cause odor as the bacteria rot leftover food particles in your mouth. A few seeds of cardamom chewed for a brief while will clear your mouth of bad breath. Chew parsley leaves,which are sure to keep your breath fresh. More useful remedies at http://useinfo5.blogspot.com/

Answer 6

If your dad says it might be gum disease, why do you have to wait to go to the dentist? Try flossing, alot. You might also try "breath assure" It is a pill that stops bad breath by neutralizing the acids in your stomach that may be causing it.

Gum disease causes more tooth loss than cavities does.

Answer 7

1] go to dentist! If you have gum diesease, it will cost more as it gets worse
2] floss daily
3] use mouthwash
4] brush two or three times a day
5] throw out mints and gum - get Spry gum, at health food store - sweetened with xylitol, freshens breath, and tastes good!
6] avoid junk foods - like candy, chips, soda [ even unsweetened ] they always leave nasty breath
7] could also be your sinuses - post nasal drip causes nasty smells too!

Answer 8

well what i do is after i brush my teeth for 1 1/2 minutes i gurgle mouthwash for 1/2 of a minute and then at night t9ime and that is what i do and i really don't think that you need to go to the dentist.=:)

Answer 9

I've been a dental assistant for over 7 years and it sounds like you could have periodontal disease. You need to see your dentist. If you don't have any type of gum disease, you can be prescribed Breath RX.

Answer 10

Make a date with your dentist, It regularly happens that your gums may be bleeding or you may have a molar growing or a not perfect bite, all this may occur and deliver this bad taste that blood produces, while all this happens, try to use this Astringosol gel laminates, it will help both, to combat the smell and as an infective prevent...

Answer 11

I answered this question for someone else before and this is what I said. I hope it helps you too:

It can be one of several possibilities. I suggest you try not using mouthwash. If you insist on using mouthwash, try switching to Crest Pro Health because it doesn't contain alcohol in it. Most mouthwashes are made with alcohol which actually can dry out your mouth and result in further bad breath, so then the mint freshness is just temporary. I learned about this on tv where they did a study about mouthwashes.

Are you on a low carb diet? If you are, that could be a cause for your bad breath. Low carb diets are actually unhealthy since your body prefers carbs as it's main source of energy. When you lack carbohydrates, your body goes into what's called Ketosis. Your body's pH then drops and you also can get bad breath. So, if you're on a low carb diet, I suggest you quit and get back to normal and healthy eating habits.

If the source of your bad breath is coming from your mouth, you could try gargling equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer and will kill bacteria that may be causing your bad breath. Keep in mind that this is only a temporary fix though.

This is what I found on wikipedia:
Six strategies may be suggested:

Eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue.[11]
Gently cleaning the tongue surface twice daily with a tongue brush, tongue scraper or tongue cleaner to wipe off the bacterial biofilm, debris and mucus. An inverted teaspoon is also effective; a toothbrush should be avoided, as the bristles will grip the tongue, causing a gagging reflex. Scraping or otherwise damaging the tongue should be avoided, and scraping of the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue should also be avoided. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.[2]
Chewing gum: Since dry mouth can increase bacterial buildup and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Chewing may help particularly when the mouth is dry, or when one cannot perform oral hygiene procedures after meals (especially those meals rich in protein). This aids in provision of saliva, which washes away oral bacteria, has antibacterial properties and promotes mechanical activity which helps cleanse the mouth. Some chewing gums contain special anti-odor ingredients. Chewing on fennel seeds, cinnamon sticks, mastic gum or fresh parsley are common folk remedies.
Gargling right before bedtime with an effective mouthwash (see below). Several types of commercial mouthwashes have been shown to reduce malodor for hours in peer-reviewed scientific studies. Mouthwashes may contain active ingredients which are inactivated by the soap present in most toothpastes. Thus it is recommended to refrain from using mouthwash directly after toothbrushing with paste (also see mouthwashes, below).[20]
Maintaining proper oral hygiene, including brushing, daily flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists. Flossing is particularly important in removing rotting food debris and bacterial plaque from between the teeth, especially at the gumline. Dentures should be properly cleaned and soaked overnight in antibacterial solution (unless otherwise advised by your dentist).[6]
Maintain water levels in the body by drinking several glasses of water a day.[2]

Go talk to your dentist. If that doesn't help, then go see a doctor. It could be coming from your stomach.