Bad breath is something no one wants to have to deal with. When you have bad breath, you worry about what impression you give people when you open your mouth. Bad breath changes the way people react to you. Their reactions to your breath can hurt your feelings and making you feel self-conscious.
A number of factors could cause your bad breath, and curing it may require figuring out what the cause is. The most important initial step to take is to see your dentist, because your bad breath can be caused by a serious problem that needs professional assistance.

Poor Oral Hygiene Habits
Most of the time, bad breath is caused by some food getting stuck on your teeth or left along the side of the gums. That stuck food can begin to decay and create an awful smell that gives you bad breath. It won’t go away on its own.
The Foods You Eat
Certain foods stay on your breath for hours after you eat them. Foods like garlic, chili and onions can remain for up to 24 hours. You may not be able to fix this problem easily, but after your body finishes processing the food, the smell should go away. Your breath can also smell bad if you drink alcohol or smoke regularly.
If you don’t drink enough water, though, you probably aren’t getting rid of the bacteria that’s residing in your mouth. When you drink more water, you can help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth to a reasonable and healthy level. Sometimes, people who are on a diet have bad breath because they aren’t eating or drinking enough.

A Dry Mouth
Your saliva has a very important job. It is supposed to get rid of the food and excess bacteria in your mouth. If you take medicines or drink alcohol or experience stress often, your mouth can become dry regularly. This will make the food and bacteria build up and cause bad breath.
Those people who have dry mouth often or who have a strange film covering their tongue should see their dentist about what the root cause may be.
Various Medical Problems
There may be times where these simple factors are not what is causing your bad breath. It may be caused by some sort of medical condition. Diabetes, kidney and liver problems, bronchitis and infections of the respiratory tract can all be indicated by bad breath. It might be dangerous to ignore your bad breath.
Once your dentist has examined you and determined that your mouth and dental system are healthy, then you may want to follow up with a doctor to see if there is a more severe medical issue causing the problem.

Curing Bad Breath
One of the best ways to get rid of bacteria in your mouth is to brush your teeth a few times a day. Flossing helps as well, removing bacteria and food your toothbrush cannot reach. It is also excellent for removing plaque that has built up on the teeth. You can use tongue scrapers and tongue cleaners to get rid of bacteria on or behind your tongue. Some people have trouble cleaning at the back of their mouth. If you do, then you can always set up an appointment with your dentist to ensure the best cleaning possible.
You can also use a mouthwash to clear out the bacteria behind your bad breath. It’s best to use a mouthwash that is free from alcohol. That’s because alcohol can cause stress on the oral tissue. Never use mouthwash as a substitute for brushing or flossing, though, since it is unable to remove plaque as effectively as they can.
You can also try to eat less garlic and fewer spicy foods and onions. Quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol can certainly help get rid of the smell as well.
You may not see any noticeable change in the way your breath smells after all this. If that happens, then you should schedule an appointment with a dentist. We will be able to determine if dental problems or infections are the cause of your bad breath.

At Purely Dental, we offer some great products and services that are great for getting rid of bad breath. Our dental office is stocked with powerful mouthwashes and toothpastes that are guaranteed to be well-suited for keeping your teeth and mouth clean.
To find a helpful dentist in Melbourne, contact Purely Dental today. We can help you have breath that smells fresh all day long, every day.