Bad Breath - any suggestions?

Mr Benevolent

As it says above I have bad breath quite a lot. My dentist says it's from bacteria on my tongue, and I'd like to control it if I can. I've been told that mouthwashes with alcohol will only make the problem worse, as my mouth dries out quickly after using the stuff.

So, any hints, tips, good mouthwashes to use? Thanks.

Cobra Kai

Hi Confab. I would say that a better approach would be to get rid of the bacteria rather than masking the smell, as with mouthwashes. Have you considered using a tongue scraper? Do you floss?

digzy

Brush, floss twice daily for the rest of your life.Lightly brush the tongue or some brushes have a rubber part behind the bristles for this purpose.
get either kin/corsodyl and use twice/daily for about 4 days.
Plenty water-your urine shouldn't be yellow-it's a sign of dehydration!!
Sugar free chewing gum will help with the symptoms.
Mystery solved:)

SuperSean11

Swish salt water around your mouth.

digzy

yeah do that-dehydrate yourself!!
stick to the pro's advice and you wont go far wrong

FruitLover

Cobra Kai wrote: »

Hi Confab. I would say that a better approach would be to get rid of the bacteria rather than masking the smell, as with mouthwashes. Have you considered using a tongue scraper? Do you floss?

Alcohol-based mouthwash doesn't simply mask the smell, it kills odour-generating bacteria.

Non-alcoholic mouthwashes are available (e.g. Dentyl), might be worth a try.

SuperSean11

digzy wrote: »

yeah do that-dehydrate yourself!!
stick to the pro's advice and you wont go far wrong

I didn't say anything about swallowing it

Cobra Kai

Don't think so FruitLover, not unless its anti-bacterial. Most mouthwashes just neutralise malodorous compounds. Digzy's complete oral hygiene approach sounds best.

Mr Benevolent

I don't floss because it's a pain in the arse! I'll start using a tongue scraper tomorrow and will give the Corsodyl a go for a couple of days. Might as well change my toothbrush and get some Dentyl while I'm at it. Might try eating a bit more fruit as well. Thanks for the help!

Cobra Kai

Wait a good 20 min after brushing before you use mouthwash--a little known fact that toothpaste counteracts mouthwash!

ballsymchugh

Confab wrote: »

I don't floss because it's a pain in the arse! I'll start using a tongue scraper tomorrow and will give the Corsodyl a go for a couple of days. Might as well change my toothbrush and get some Dentyl while I'm at it. Might try eating a bit more fruit as well. Thanks for the help!

start now. if you don't you're leaving 50% of the stuff behind on your teeth. may as well not bother brushing then. do what digzy said.
and eh... do you smoke?

Big_G

FruitLover wrote: »

Alcohol-based mouthwash doesn't simply mask the smell, it kills odour-generating bacteria.

Non-alcoholic mouthwashes are available (e.g. Dentyl), might be worth a try.

Nope. Alcohol in mouthwash is used as a solvent only. The alcohol doesn't kill anything.

Recent evidence suggests also that biofilms in the mouth (where bacteria live - otherwise known as plaque) is or can become resistant to mouthwashes.

So now.

Big_G

Cobra Kai wrote: »

Wait a good 20 min after brushing before you use mouthwash--a little known fact that toothpaste counteracts mouthwash!

Chlorhexidine gluconate only (Corsodyl is one of the brands with this chemical in it).

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Brush...2-3 minutes all surfaces of your teeth with a soft but relative good condition tooth brush. Floss between all your teeth top and bottom. Brush the back of your tongue with the tooth brush. Washout with a daily mouth wash at the end. One step without the others is pointless.

If you can be bothered flossing then you will have to live with the bad breath.

Mr Benevolent

Ariel Poor Ferryboat wrote: »

Brush...2-3 minutes all surfaces of your teeth with a soft but relative good condition tooth brush. Floss between all your teeth top and bottom. Brush the back of your tongue with the tooth brush. Washout with a daily mouth wash at the end. One step without the others is pointless.

If you can be bothered flossing then you will have to live with the bad breath.

Fair enough. I'll try flossing for a few months and see how I get on.

MagicMarker

Flossing is essential. While I may not be as diligent as I should be, I couldn't imagine never flossing! I'd just feel..... dirty:)

Cobra Kai

Get waxed tape, its easier to start with. And bleeding gums after flossing is normal, your gums have to adjust. This build up of plaque and other bacteria in the mouth can lead to heart problems later on in life.

casiof91w

you better hope u dont have tonsil stones the bang off them

RainyDay

Ariel Poor Ferryboat wrote: »

Brush...2-3 minutes all surfaces of your teeth with a soft but relative good condition tooth brush. Floss between all your teeth top and bottom. Brush the back of your tongue with the tooth brush. Washout with a daily mouth wash at the end. One step without the others is pointless.

If you can be bothered flossing then you will have to live with the bad breath.

I was looking for advice on bad breath, and this looks like pretty good advice to me. I've probably done each of these with varying degrees of enthusiasm from time to time, but I haven't done all of them consistently - so I'll give that a shot over the next few weeks.

Is there any Plan B if these don't work?

majoliroja

all the advice sounds great and should work
This product is available to give you extra confidence
CB12- neutralises substances and processes that cause bad breath- can be bought in any boots store

Aln_S

Try this www.drkatz.co.uk, it worked for me. Using it now for about 6 or 7 years

Edit: That site seems to be broken, this is the US one http://www.therabreath.com/, the UK retailer is therahealth.biz Don't think its available in Ireland other than to get it posted from the UK.

RainyDay

Ariel Poor Ferryboat wrote: »

Brush...2-3 minutes all surfaces of your teeth with a soft but relative good condition tooth brush. Floss between all your teeth top and bottom. Brush the back of your tongue with the tooth brush. Washout with a daily mouth wash at the end. One step without the others is pointless.

If you can be bothered flossing then you will have to live with the bad breath.

Any idea how long this kind of routine would take to have some effect? Is it days, or weeks or what?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

2 weeks, but you should feel improvements immediately, quit smoking also.