Bad breath (halitosis): causes, treatment and home remedies

The Oral Health Foundation says persistent bad breath is usually caused by smelly gases released by bacteria that coat your teeth, gums and tongue, and that bits of food stuck between your teeth or on your tongue can also rot and cause a bad smell.

The NHS lists 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, fasting or crash dieting, some medical conditions like dry mouth, tonsillitis and acid reflux, and smoking.

The NHS says you can usually treat bad breath yourself, and that the best way of making sure you do not have it is to keep your teeth, tongue and mouth clean. Its advice includes gently brushing your teeth and gums at least twice a day for 2 minutes, using a fluoride toothpaste, gently cleaning your tongue once a day with a tongue scraper or cleaner, and cleaning between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss at least once a day.

It also advises getting regular dental check-ups, keeping dentures clean and removing them at night, using sugar-free mints or chewing gum after strong-smelling food and drinks, and trying an antibacterial mouthwash or toothpaste.

The NHS says not to smoke, not to drink too much alcohol, not to rinse your mouth with water straight after brushing, not to have lots of sugary foods and drinks, and not to brush so hard your gums or tongue bleed.

The Oral Health Foundation adds that you should brush for two minutes last thing at night and one other time during the day with a fluoride toothpaste, and brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper. It suggests chewing sugar-free gum to stop your mouth from getting dry, cutting down on sugary food and drinks, and drinking water regularly to keep your mouth moist.

It says mouthwash can freshen your breath but will not fix the problem if something else is causing it, and that if you find yourself using mouthwash all the time you should consider discussing this with your dental team.

• Brush for 2 minutes at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

• Clean your tongue once a day.

• Clean between your teeth every day.

• Chew sugar-free gum and drink water to keep your mouth moist.

• Do not smoke, and keep alcohol low.

• Keep dentures clean and take them out at night.

The Oral Health Foundation says it can be hard to tell if you have bad breath. Sometimes people notice a strange taste in their mouth, which can be a sign. It describes a quick test: lick the inside of your wrist, wait a few seconds, then smell it. If it smells bad, your breath probably does too. You can also ask someone you trust to tell you honestly.

The NHS says gum disease can lead to bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth, and that it is where your gums become red, swollen and sore, and bleed. It says to see a dentist if your gums bleed when you brush your teeth or eat hard foods, your gums are painful and swollen, or you have bad breath.

In the early stages, the NHS says your dentist will give advice about keeping your teeth clean, such as using interdental brushes, advise you to stop smoking, and may advise cleaning by a hygienist. If gum disease is serious, deep cleaning under the gums, antibiotics, removing some teeth or gum surgery may be needed.

Yes. The Oral Health Foundation says bad breath can be caused by dry mouth, sinus problems, throat or chest infections, diabetes, and liver or kidney problems. If your dentist cannot find a problem with your mouth, they might ask you to see your doctor.

The NHS also lists dry mouth, tonsillitis and acid reflux among medical conditions that can cause bad breath.

The sources used here do not give separate advice for children with bad breath. The NHS says that for gum disease, you should see a dentist if your child has sore, bleeding gums, and it says children are entitled to free NHS dental treatment, including those aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education.

Good mouth care habits such as brushing with fluoride toothpaste and regular check-ups apply to children too, and a dentist can advise on the cause of persistent bad breath in a child.

The sources used here do not describe pregnancy-specific causes of bad breath. The NHS says to have regular dental check-ups with a dentist and dental hygienist, especially if you are pregnant or have type 2 diabetes, to help prevent gum disease, which can cause bad breath.

The NHS also says check-ups and treatment from a dentist are free when you are pregnant and for 1 year after you give birth, using the maternity exemption (MATEX) certificate.

The NHS says to 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, or problems with your dentures.

For gum disease with other symptoms such as very sore and swollen gums, teeth becoming loose or falling out, ulcers or red patches in your mouth, or a lump in your mouth or on your lip, the NHS says to ask for an urgent dentist appointment, and to call 111 if you cannot get one.

On the NHS, bad breath is usually dealt with by a dentist, and some causes are referred on to a GP. NHS dental treatment is free for some people, including children, people who are pregnant or have had a baby in the past 12 months, and people on some benefits; otherwise charges apply.

Private dental practices offer the same assessment and hygienist care, often with more appointment choice.