Here at Knights Dental, we regularly see patients who present with these concerns, and our clinicians tailor recommendations to each individual. If you have any questions about your oral health, we always encourage a conversation with one of our dentists so you can get advice that’s specific to you.
If you want to get rid of bad breath, start with thorough daily oral hygiene. Brush all tooth surfaces and along the gum line twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth every day and gently clean your tongue. Drinking water regularly may also help if your mouth feels dry.
Mints and mouthwash can make your breath feel fresher temporarily, but persistent bad breath may be linked to problems such as gum disease, tooth decay or dry mouth. If it keeps returning despite a consistent routine, a dental assessment can help determine whether an oral health problem needs attention.
Why Does Bad Breath Happen?
Bad breath, also called halitosis, is often linked to conditions inside the mouth.
Bacteria can accumulate around the teeth and gums and on the surface of the tongue. Food debris may also remain between teeth when these spaces are not cleaned effectively, contributing to unpleasant odours.
A systematic review of halitosis causes found that intra-oral factors accounted for around 80% to 90% of cases across the evidence reviewed. Tongue coating, periodontal disease and poor oral hygiene were among the main factors identified.
Some causes are temporary. Strong-smelling foods, coffee, alcohol and smoking can all affect how your breath smells.
If the problem continues day after day, repeatedly covering it with mints is unlikely to tell you why it is happening.
How to Get Rid of Bad Breath Step by Step
Bad breath has several possible causes, so the right approach depends on what is behind it. For everyday bad breath, start by cleaning the places where bacteria and food debris tend to collect.
Step 1: Brush Properly Twice a Day
Brush all tooth surfaces and along the gum line at least twice a day, including last thing at night, using fluoride toothpaste.
The UK Government’s evidence-based oral hygiene guidance recommends thorough twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste. It also advises spitting out excess toothpaste after brushing rather than immediately rinsing it away.
Take your time around the gum line and back teeth, where plaque can be easier to miss. Brushing harder is not necessarily more effective. Aim to clean each area thoroughly without scrubbing the gums aggressively.
Step 2: Clean Between Your Teeth Every Day
A toothbrush cannot effectively reach every surface between your teeth.
Plaque and food debris can remain in these spaces, particularly where teeth are close together or food becomes trapped regularly. Interdental brushes or dental floss can help clean areas a toothbrush cannot reach.
UK oral health guidance recommends cleaning between the teeth daily using an appropriate interdental aid. The best option can depend on the size of the spaces between your teeth and your individual oral health needs.
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Step 3: Clean Your Tongue Gently
The tongue has an uneven surface where bacteria and debris can collect, particularly towards the back.
Gently cleaning your tongue once a day with a tongue cleaner, scraper or suitable toothbrush can help reduce this build-up. No need to scrub hard.
If your tongue becomes sore or you notice patches, swelling or other persistent changes, have them assessed rather than repeatedly trying to remove them yourself.
Step 4: Keep Your Mouth From Becoming Too Dry
Saliva helps keep the mouth moist and supports the natural clearance of food debris. When your mouth feels persistently dry, unpleasant breath may become more noticeable.
Simple measures that may help include:
- drinking water regularly
- avoiding smoking
- limiting excessive alcohol consumption
- chewing sugar-free gum if suitable for you
Dry mouth can have several causes, including some medicines and underlying health conditions.
Do not stop taking or change prescribed medication because of dry mouth without first speaking to the healthcare professional responsible for your treatment.
Step 5: Treat Mouthwash as an Extra
Mouthwash can be useful in some circumstances, but it should not replace brushing or cleaning between the teeth.
The Oral Health Foundation’s guidance on bad breath explains that keeping the teeth, gums and tongue clean is central to managing halitosis. Mouthwash may help freshen the mouth, but it does not remove every possible underlying cause.
If you need mouthwash repeatedly throughout the day to keep the smell under control, the next step is to work out what is causing it.
Why Do I Still Have Bad Breath After Brushing?
Brushing is important, but a toothbrush cannot address every possible source of bad breath.
| Possible cause | What you might notice | What may help |
| Plaque between teeth | Food trapping or bleeding gums | Daily interdental cleaning |
| Tongue coating | Visible coating or worse breath after waking | Gentle tongue cleaning |
| Gum problems | Bleeding, swollen or tender gums | Dental assessment and appropriate gum care |
| Tooth decay or infection | Pain, sensitivity or an unpleasant taste | Dental examination and treatment |
| Dry mouth | Sticky or persistently dry feeling | Hydration and assessment if ongoing |
| Smoking | Persistent odour, staining or gum problems | Stopping smoking and maintaining good oral care |
If brushing is not helping, it is worth looking beyond the toothbrush.
Brushing cannot remove hardened calculus and may not be enough to manage established tooth decay, periodontal disease or a dental infection. These problems may need professional assessment and appropriate treatment rather than being masked with breath-freshening products.
Can Gum Disease Cause Bad Breath?
Yes. Gum disease is one possible cause of persistent bad breath.
Plaque accumulating around the gum line can contribute to inflammation. Depending on the condition and its severity, you may notice bleeding, redness, swelling, tenderness or an unpleasant taste alongside changes to your breath.
Warning signs can include:
- gums bleeding during brushing or interdental cleaning
- red or swollen gums
- a persistent unpleasant taste
- gums appearing to recede
- adult teeth becoming loose
If you are also noticing bleeding, swelling or loose teeth, mouthwash is unlikely to address the underlying problem.
A dental examination can help determine whether gum disease, tooth decay or another oral health issue needs attention. Knights Dental provides general dentistry care alongside preventive and hygiene services.
When Professional Dental Hygiene May Help
Even with careful brushing, plaque and hardened calculus can accumulate in areas that are difficult to clean at home.
Once calculus has hardened, it cannot be removed effectively with normal toothbrushing.
During our hygiene appointments, the hygienist checks the mouth for signs of disease before scaling and polishing the teeth to remove plaque, calculus and light staining, including from areas that can be difficult to reach with a toothbrush.
Professional cleaning is not a universal treatment for bad breath. However, if plaque, calculus or gum health are contributing factors, hygiene care may form part of addressing the underlying oral health problem.
If you would like to understand what an appointment involves, find out more about our dental hygiene services.
What Foods and Habits Can Affect Your Breath?
Not every episode of bad breath means you have a dental condition.
You may notice temporary changes after:
- Eating garlic, onions or strongly flavoured foods
- Drinking coffee or alcohol
- Smoking
- Waking after a night’s sleep
- Becoming dehydrated
Sugar-free gum or mints may make your mouth feel fresher for a short time after certain foods, but they do not replace your normal cleaning routine.
Temporary bad breath that disappears once the trigger has passed is different from an odour that remains despite consistent oral hygiene.
When Should You See a Dentist About Bad Breath?
Alternative text: Knights Dental clinician examining a patient during a dental appointment.
Consider arranging a dental assessment if bad breath keeps returning or persists despite regular brushing, interdental cleaning and tongue cleaning.
It is also sensible to seek dental advice if it occurs alongside:
- gums that frequently bleed or swell
- persistent toothache
- sensitivity that does not settle
- an unexplained unpleasant taste
- loose adult teeth
- swelling or signs of a dental infection
- problems with dentures
A dental examination can look for oral causes such as gum disease, tooth decay, infection and areas of plaque or calculus that are difficult to manage at home.
The Oral Health Foundation’s guidance on dental swelling advises seeking urgent dental care for facial swelling or significant pain. If swelling affects your breathing or makes it difficult to swallow, seek emergency medical care immediately.
If your teeth and gums appear healthy and there is no obvious dental explanation, your dentist may advise you to speak to your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional about possible non-dental causes.
Dentists and hygienists routinely discuss concerns about breath, so it is worth mentioning if the problem keeps returning rather than relying on products that only disguise it.
What to Do if Bad Breath Keeps Coming Back
For most people, the first steps are straightforward. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth every day, gently clean your tongue and keep your mouth hydrated.
Mouthwash, mints and chewing gum may provide temporary freshness, but they cannot resolve problems such as gum disease, tooth decay or infection.
We have ten locations across South Wales. You can find the nearest clinic to you by visiting our website. To book a consultation with one of our dentists and discuss any concerns or treatment questions, contact us here.
