Bad breath

Bad breath (sometimes called halitosis) is very common. You can usually treat it yourself.

How to treat bad breath yourself

The best way of making sure you do not have bad breath is to keep your teeth, tongue and mouth clean.

Causes of bad breath

Causes of bad breath may include:

• eating or drinking strong-smelling or spicy foods and drinks
• problems with your teeth or gums, such as gum disease, holes in your teeth or an infection
• crash dieting
• some medical conditions, like tonsillitis or acid reflux
• smoking

See a dentist if you have:

• bad breath that does not go away after treating it yourself for a few weeks
• painful, bleeding or swollen gums
• toothache or wobbly adult teeth
• problems with your dentures