Most people who have bad breath don’t realize it. Their family, their friends, and the people they work with are often too embarrassed to tell them. Instead, they simply avoid talking face-to-face with them so they don’t have to be exposed to their halitosis.
That means that you could actually have bad breath and not even know it. But the good news is that most cases of bad breath are relatively easy to resolve.
Causes of Bad Breath
There are lots of causes of bad breath. It could be your diet. If you eat a lot of noxious foods — such as raw onions, garlic, or foods with strong spices — your breath may smell for a few hours after eating. But generally, this type of bad breath is relatively short term.
More concerning is chronic bad breath. This typically is caused by rot and decay inside your mouth. That sounds disgusting but is actually more common than you might think.
When you eat some types of foods including meat or grains, tiny strings or particles of food can get trapped in the spaces between your teeth. Brushing regularly will remove surface particles. But those that find their way between your teeth can remain stuck there for hours, days, or even weeks.
When this happens, these food particles can begin to decay and rot. And when they do, they can emit the distinctive odor that causes bad breath.
The Bad Breath Cure
The solution for most types of bad breath is actually quite simple: Remove these trapped food particles before they can begin to break down and decay. And that’s where regular flossing comes into play.
Take it from the best dentist in Margate: When you get into the habit of flossing between your teeth after every meal — or at least once per day — it can release these food particles before they can cause bad breath. Flossing can also help reduce your risk for cavities and gum disease and improve your overall oral health.