Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria in the mouth and is not usually a sign of general ill health.
Gum disease can cause bad breath. But you could still have bread breath with good oral hygiene, and healthy teeth and gums. The smell then usually comes from the far back of the tongue. It gets stronger when you talk, as your mouth gets drier.
Most adults occasionally suffer from bad breath, perhaps a quarter have it regularly. If you are worried about bad breath please talk to you dentist.
What can be done about bad breath?
Your dentist might use a plastic spoon to gently scrape the back of your tongue and test the smell. There are also instruments that measure sulphur compounds in the mouth or swelling around the gums.
Good oral hygiene will usually be the answer to a bad breath problem. A scale and polish from your dentist or hygienist will make it easier for you to keep your mouth clean at home.
How can I fix bad breath at home?
Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Use floss or other oral hygiene aids if your dentist or hygienist recommends them. You can check bad breath by smelling the floss after you have used it. If there is a smell from a particular area of the mouth you should clean that area with special care.
Gently brush your tongue if it is heavily coated. Special plastic tongue scrapers can be bought from most chemists.
A mouth will smell less if it is moist. Chewing sugar-free gum can help with bad bread by increasing the flow of saliva. You might have a dry mouth because you breathe with your mouth open or because you are taking certain medicines.
If you smoke, try to give it up. As well as making your breath smell better, giving up smoking will keep your mouth and gums healthy and benefit your general health.