Thank you for bringing this question to light. I would respond first by asking you one question. Do you floss your teeth before or after brushing? if so how many times in a day? To answer your question you having a smell on your breath means your gums are not very healthy although you brush. you need to visit a dentist to evaluate the severity of your gums. You may need scaling which is termed as deep cleaning which will will follow up with instructions on either to go back every three months or six depending on the evaluation from your dentist. secondly, Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. Basically, all the food eaten begins to be broken down in your mouth. As foods are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, they are eventually carried to your lungs and given off in your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing -- even mouthwash -- merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body. If you don't brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which promotes bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath. Antibacterial mouth rinses can also help reduce bacteria. In addition, odor-causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if dentures are not properly cleaned. Smoking or chewing tobacco-based products can also cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods, and irritate the gums. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be warning signs of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. The bacteria cause toxins to form in the mouth, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone. The medical condition dry mouth (also called xerostomia) can also cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten and cleanse the mouth by neutralizing acids produced by plaque and washing away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be caused by the side effects of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth. Many other diseases and illnesses may cause bad breath. Here are some to be aware of: respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems. I hope this will help you and hope I have answered your question. If you still have more question, Please dont hesitate to ask. I am available 24/7 and will respond within hours. Thank you very much.

Anthony Rwaga DDS (800)-485-1428

Halitosis can have many different underlying causes that should be addressed accordingly- Always keep a good oral hygiene to keep the bacteria away. Brushing the tongue as well is highly recommended. Rinse using alcohol free mouth wash and swish in the mouth and throat. Make sure to have regular dental exams to get cavities and dental infections under check. Drink frequently at all times

In 20 years of practice the most common origin would be not brushing your tongue, scrub it well until there is nothing that looks or feels like a film on it . One tricky part is being able to scrub all the way back where many people tend to gag. In this back part we tend to find the sulfur producing bacteria that can really give off a strong malodor. I like to brush in the shower (morning) when i have nothing in my stomach ( i gag a little). The second most common is periodontal disease, do your gums bleed when you brush them?do you floss?, what does your hygienist say about your flossing? Periodontal disease includes the constant breakdown of the "gasket" that seals the gum around the tooth, that is protein breakdown and benzene rings are produced, smells like a dead squirrel in the garage. At this point those deposits under the gum and between the teeth have to be removed for the situation to improve.

The causes of Halitosis or Bad breath can be one of the following , but not limited to the following :Gum Disease, Cavities, Decays, Periodontal Pockets, Washed-Out Fillings or Crowns and Porcelain Veneers which are poorly fitted can also lead to Halitosis.

Other Important Facts:

1-Your Saliva plays an important role in avoiding Halitosis, therefore eating apples, oranges and other citrus can increase salivary flow washing away particles of food. However, if a person experiences dry mouth or xerostomia, your chances of having bad breath increases significantly.

2-Avoid smelly foods such as onions and garlic which are absorbed in your blood, and transferred to your lungs, which is then expelled as sulfide compound gas, which causes mal-odor! Even brushing and flossing will not get rid of the mal-odor fumes.

3-The polyphenols in green tea are a great aid in preventing bad breath and cavities, however be aware of the staining of teeth it causes.

4-Bad breath can be due to systemic diseases such as kidney failure, respiratory infections, diabetes creating keystones, or other medical conditions, hence brushing and flossing does not always guarantee fresh breath.

5-Meats and cheese can cause sulfide odors, so eat them judiciously.

6-Many prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs (roughly around 400 of them), cause dry mouth, which causes bacterial growth, leading to halitosis and decay in conjunction with periodontal disease and bone loss!

7-Tonsilitis can cause bad breath. The inflammation of tonsils and subsequent gray and yellow deposits in the back of tonsils can also cause mal- odor, as a Cosmetic Dentist, We recommend non alcoholic rinses such as gargling with salt water.

8- we highly recommends you to write and log what you eat, and when flossing, smell the floss for any bad odor, so proper treatment can be prescribed by us.

For treating Halitosis or bad breath , We do use a Halimeter machine, to measure the sulfide compounds, before start of treatment and during the treatment for success.Also please read the link below, you might find additional information:

http://www.top.celebritydentist.com/halitosis-bad-breath/

Best,

Dr Anthony Mobasser

Cosmetic and Dental Reconstruction Dentistry

There are several good answers to this question already. Basically the mouth is one end of the digestive tract and in poor health can smell as foul as the terminal end. It is all about regulating the bacterial and inflammatory environment. Brushing is a good start but professional intervention is needed to restore health. Other issues of the GI may be contributing to your odor and require consultation with medicine.

It could be several issues. Do you use a tongue scraper to brush your tongue. could be an intestinal issue or could be periodontal disease.You need to be examined by a dentist to determine this.

Dear Patient:

Most patients we see that have bad breath, have some amount of periodontal problems with deep pockets and bone loss. This needs to be treated soon to avoid future additional bone loss. It may require deep cleaning which entails several visits with the hygienists and may requier the involvement of a periodontist (gum and bone specialist). Normally, x-rays and probing will tell us if the patients have periodontal problems.

Dr. Michael Barme, 562-863-4110

There are lots of reasons for bad breath or halitosis. The most common is periodontal disease. You should visit a dentist for a cleaning with periodontal probing to see if you have pocketing around your teeth. Another could be from the stomach and problems with it. Also, medicines that day the mouth could be the problem.

It's a good idea to be checked by your dentist to determine the cause. It could be from your tongue, your gums, and even possibly your stomach. Get to your dentist right away. Brushing twice a day will not get rid of it, without knowing the source.

Prezioso Dental, Hamden, CT 06518