Symptoms linked with bad breath and how to treat them

If you have bad breath, you can find yourself avoiding social interactions and trying to keep your distance from people because of feelings of embarrassment.

However, there are many causes and symptoms of bad breath, allowing you to try different remedies to get to the bottom of it.

But what are the conditions and symptoms linked with bad breath?

Bad breath and bleeding gums

If you have bad breath and other symptoms, like bleeding gums, you may have periodontitis, more commonly known as gum disease.

Gum disease is caused by a build-up of sticky plaque on the teeth, which allows the harmful bacteria found within easy access to create cavities – gaps or pockets in the teeth and gums.

If you don’t remove this plaque with regular brushing and flossing, the build-up can become unmanageable and irritate the gums, leading to redness with swelling, bleeding, and soreness.

This bleeding can occur when you brush, and because of the accumulating bacteria, the freshness of your breath can suffer.

What to do about bad breath and bleeding gums?

The most important thing to do when you notice signs of gum disease is to contact your dentist for an appointment.

They will examine your mouth and give your teeth a thorough, professional clean and remove any hardened plaque – also called tartar.

If your gum disease is in the early stages, this, combined with an attentive dental hygiene routine at home and regular check-ups can be all you need to treat your gum disease. However, it is important to be aware that if your periodontitis is advanced, you may need more specialist, prolonged periodontic care to keep on top of your gum disease.

Bad breath and white tongues

If you have bad breath and a white tongue, you can feel relieved – as this is one of the most common signs of bad breath but is rarely worrying.

The bad breath and white tongue combo is caused by the swelling of the papillae on the surface of your tongue – which can trap bacteria, food, and dead cells between them. This results in that white coating that you can feel, smell, and see.

What to do about bad breath and a white tongue?

• • Ensure you have a thorough, regular oral care routine – which includes brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and using a tongue scraper to remove the white film.

You can also use a mouthwash to feel the freshness but leave it for 30 minutes after brushing, so you don’t remove the beneficial fluoride your toothpaste leaves behind.

• • Drink water – you should aim for around 6-8 cups per day as this will prevent a dry mouth, another cause of bad breath.
  • Eat sensibly – some foods can negatively affect the freshness of your breath, including eggs, onions, garlic, dairy, and some fish, so try to limit these.

Instead, add more fresh fruit and vegetables to your diet, as these have a high water content, can help clean the teeth while you eat them, and act as natural breath deodorisers.

• Visit your dentist regularly – regular check-ups can identify dental problems before they escalate and ensure you treat the problem promptly, clearing the bad breath you have now and stopping it from developing again.

LCCDs top causes of bad breath

If you are looking to avoid awkward social interactions because of bad breath, below is our easy and simple list of things to avoid. These include:

• Avoiding the dentist – more often than not, periodontal disease is the main cause, which can be treated with intervention from your dentist. 
• Smoking and vaping –both contribute towards a dry mouth and can smell unpleasant themselves. 
• Rinsing your mouth after brushing your teeth – this removes beneficial fluoride which protects your teeth. 
• Eating lots of sugary foods and drinks – increased sugar consumption contributes towards the development of plaque.
• Brushing so hard your gums and tongue bleed – in an attempt to get rid of bad breath, it is common for people to brush too hard, this won’t help and will just damage your mouth.  
• Limiting food and drinks that have a strong odour – you don’t need to give up strong-smelling food and drinks altogether, but try to limit how often or when you have them if you want to have fresh breath for a particular period of time or event.

For help with bad breath, reach out to LCCD

With over 30 years of experience treating halitosis and bad breath, Dr Druian and his team can work with you to eliminate the causes of gum disease and tooth decay – leading causes of bad breath. 

With our range of clinically- proven UltraDEX products and the help of our dental hygienists, we can eradicate your bad breath and restore your confidence once more. 

For more information on bad breath treatment London or to book an appointment, fill in our contact form or give us a call on 0207 722 1235 and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.