Bad breath busters

Q. What are some of the main causes of bad breath?

A. Julie-Anne Atkinson: The thing to look at first is oral hygiene. You really need to ensure your teeth are properly cleaned and that the tongue is brushed – there are special scrapers you can buy for this. Often the tongue is a trap for bacteria. Flossing will remove any food debris trapped between the teeth. Meat, for instance, can be trapped between the teeth and ferment.

Cigarette smoking and alcohol can also trigger bad breath – particularly when large amounts of alcohol are consumed the night before.

Q. How can bad breath best be addressed?

A. It's about maintaining good digestive health and a good level of bacteria in the gut and bowel. We would see benefits in replacing good gut bacteria through the use of a probiotic supplement. This can often remedy bad breath.

The problem can also be tied in with bowel function. In other words, you may not be eliminating waste properly and your breath may be affected. To address constipation you should increase the amount of water you drink, increase your fibre intake, and of course, use a probiotic supplement. Bitter lettuce greens can also be of help to your digestive system.  

Q. When is bad breath symptomatic of other health conditions?

A. Often, in cases when cleaning the teeth might only mask bad breath for several minutes. In looking for underlying disease states, we examine digestion and check for infection. Sinusitis can also be a reason behind bad breath due to the build up of mucus. Gum disease also ties in with oral hygiene.

Q. What are some great tips for people wishing to keep their breath at its best?

A. Doing a detox is a really good idea because you're addressing elimination via a range of different routes – your digestive system including the bowel, liver, and skin. Exercise is fantastic, too. Smoking can cause more mucus production, and this mucus can become stagnant, so giving up can assist in preventing bad breath. And chewing parsley mixed with lemon juice can also be helpful.

How do you know if you have bad breath?

Bright idea: the Australian Breath Clinic has developed a machine called the Halimeter which uses a gas sensor capable of detecting parts-per-billion quantities of several gases known to cause bad breath.