There probably isn’t anything as off-putting as bad breath. Seriously, if you have ever travelled in the Delhi Metro or the local trains in Kolkata & Mumbai, you would know just how bad some people’s breath can be. 

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Then, there is always that one moron who “forgets” to brush his or her teeth in the morning and steps out to work. 

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However, sometimes, in spite of a good dental routine, there are instances when our breath starts to stink, quite badly might we say. And no matter how good a toothpaste we use, or how frequently we gargle using mouthwash, we still end up with our breath reeking like a trash can.

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So, why does this happen? Why do people’s breath smell awful sometimes, even though they brush twice a day and use a proper mouthwash? Well, we explain why.

1. Excessive Smoking

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Is it any surprise that this is the topmost reason? Smoking is really bad for your oral health, and for your general health as well. Cigarettes have a lot of carcinogens that anyway smell very bad. When mixed up with saliva, and food stuck in your teeth, it is bound to make your breath smell awful.

2. You Don’t Floss

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No matter how many dental experts we get, or how many wellness columns speak of this, in India, people really do not have the habit of flossing. Brushing and using mouthwash is simply not enough. Food often gets stuck between our teeth, and in crannies where the bristles of your brush might not reach. 

3. Ignoring The Tongue

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The plastic ridges behind your toothbrush are not adequate to properly clean your tongue. Get a plastic or a copper tongue scraper or tongue cleaner, and use it, after you brush your teeth, and before you use a mouth wash. 

4. Consider Tweaking Your Diet A Bit

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You’ve tried everything, and still can’t stop your breath from stinking. May be now is the time to tweak your diet a little. We’re not saying to lay off the raw onions and curries loaded with garlic completely, but do cut down on it. Furthermore, try to include naturally acidic foods, like carrots, beetroots etc. Basically, foods that are a little crunchy and have a slightly acidic taste.

5. Give Overtly Sugary & Acidic Foods A Miss

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This is especially true for most people given how during the lockdown we have been over-snacking, and stuffing ourselves with food items that have high salt, sugar or acidic content. High concentrations of sugar, salt or acid, erodes the enamel off your teeth. This leads to a number of serious issues, of which bad breath would be the least of your problems.

6. Time To Visit The Dentist?

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Our bathroom mirrors actually do not allow us to inspect our mouths completely. Plus, there may be issues that seem benign to us but actually are reasons to worry about. Ideally, you should visit your dentist every six months. If that is not possible, and we really cannot see why would that be the case, visit your dentist at least once a year.

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