23 hours Ago By [email protected] (Danielle Kate Wroe)
If you're worried about your breath not smelling pleasant, there's a way you can check yourself. Everybody wants minty fresh breath at all times, but are more than aware that's not possible. But just because your breath isn't minty, doesn't mean it has to be stinky, and one dentist has warned that there are three things that may be causing your breath to be less than pleasant.
But first, how can you tell that your breath doesn't smell as fresh as it possibly could? You may be embarrassed to ask a friend or family member, so a dentist at the @chelseadentalclinic shared a method for you to find out yourself. READ MORE: Woman claims one shampoo is 'secret to hair growth' after trying it for 5 months "Well, first of all, you can do a really simple test. You can literally get your hand, breathe on it, and smell it", she suggested, asking: "Does it smell?" Others on social media also recommend licking the back of your hand, leaving it for a few seconds, and then smelling it, and some have even recommended licking a spoon, then checking for any gross scents.
"Another thing is, you could actually ask a friend or family member - they could probably be honest with you", she shared - but of course, many will be too embarrassed to do this. She continued: "Bad breath is also known as halitosis and can happen for a number of reasons. One, it could happen because you're not brushing properly, so bacteria harbouring in your teeth and gums can cause this odour.
"Two, it could also be down to gut problems, so sometimes if you have problems with your gut, the gases from your stomach and so forth can come out through the mouth. "Three, if you've got something like a denture or a crown that's not fitted properly, or it's got lots of fungal infections, that can smell too". She then recommended that people regularly "see a dentist" - especially if they have concerns.
The NHS say that "the best way of making sure you do not have bad breath is to keep your teeth, tongue and mouth clean." They shared a list of things you should be doing to reach maximum oral hygiene: gently brush your teeth and gums at least twice a day for 2 minutes use a fluoride toothpaste gently clean your tongue once a day using a tongue scraper or cleaner clean between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss at least once a day get regular dental check-ups keep dentures clean and remove them at night use sugar-free mints or chewing gum after having strong-smelling food and drinks try using an antibacterial mouthwash or toothpaste Conversely, they shared things you should not be doing if you want fresh breath: do not smoke do not rinse your mouth with water straight after brushing your teeth do not have lots of sugary foods and drinks do not brush so hard that your gums or tongue bleed.
