How to Get Rid of Lingering Bad Breath

Bad breath, clinically known as halitosis, is common. It can result from eating certain foods, such as onions or garlic. In many cases, brushing your teeth, using mouthwash, or sucking on a mint can help combat bad breath. But this won’t fix chronic and persistent halitosis—bad breath that doesn’t go away and a sign of underlying oral or physical health problems.

This article goes over how to get rid of bad breath and discusses this condition's causes and risk factors.   

How to Treat and Get Rid of Bad Breath for Good

Since halitosis is a sign of underlying oral or physical health issues, getting rid of it means getting at the root causes of this condition. Dental and medical treatments, changing lifestyle habits, medications, and surgeries can all play a role in getting rid of bad breath for good.  

Conventional Treatment

The treatment approach dentists and periodontists (gum specialists) take to halitosis depends on the underlying cause. Many cases are related to plaque and tartar, bacterial buildup in the teeth, gums, and mouth. This prompts several dental treatments, including the following:

• Scaling and root planing: Dentists or periodontists use scaling and root planing to treat gingivitis (gum disease) and periodontitis (gum infection) by removing bacteria causing bad breath. They use tools to scrape away buildup along the teeth, in the pockets between them, under the gumline, and at their roots.
• Mechanical debridement: Halitosis is often linked to a buildup of a layer of bacteria, or biofilm, on the tongue and teeth. Mechanical debridement involves using a scraper or brush on the tongue to remove it.
• Mouth rinses: Medicated mouth rinses and washes target bacteria in your mouth. Your dentist or periodontist may recommend solutions of antibacterial agents like chlorhexidine, zinc, triclosan, and cetylpyridinium chloride.

Lifestyle and Habits

Poor oral hygiene is a primary cause of halitosis. As such, there are many lifestyle changes you can make and habits you can adopt to promote the health of your teeth and mouth and prevent bad breath, including:

• Brushing and flossing: Brush your teeth thoroughly after eating and floss daily. Try using mouthwash with zinc, which has been found effective for bad breath.
• Tongue scraping: Using a special scraper, you can perform mechanical debridement at home to remove halitosis-causing biofilm on the tongue.
• Avoiding tobacco: Freshening your breath is among the many benefits of quitting tobacco; not only does smoking directly cause bad breath, but it also causes dry mouth, which can lead to halitosis.
• Dietary changes: Minimize onions, garlic, pickled foods, and spices in your diet, as these can cause your breath to become pungent.
• Clean your dentures: False teeth or dentures can be reservoirs of halitosis-causing bacteria; cleaning and sanitizing them regularly and properly can prevent chronic bad breath.
• Avoiding dry mouth: Drink plenty of water and keep your mouth moist; avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can cause dry mouth.  
• Stimulate saliva: Your dentist may recommend chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production, which protects your mouth from bacteria.
• Natural treatments: Home remedies for bad breath include mouthwashes made with essential oils, chewing certain herbs, and drinking green tea.

Medications and Surgeries

Some cases of halitosis arise due to health conditions that don’t involve the mouth, requiring medications or treatment. Antacids may help ease symptoms when gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)—a chronic form of heartburn—is the underlying cause.

Bronchitis or other bacterial respiratory infections can cause bad breath, so a healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics for the underlying infection.

Infected adenoids—glands found behind your nose and above the mouth—also cause halitosis. Surgery to remove these, or adenoidectomy, treats the infection, reducing the odor of your breath.  

Some cases of halitosis can also be treated with photodynamic therapy. This involves directing radio waves and laser beams to kill bacteria in your mouth. In a review of research published in 2022, the authors found this to reduce levels of the volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath.    

Chronic Halitosis: Why Can’t I Get Rid of My Bad Breath?

Chronic halitosis can be a symptom of dental issues or other diseases. In addition, specific behavioral patterns and lifestyle habits can put you more at risk. If you can’t get rid of halitosis, the reason may be that you aren’t managing its cause.    

Causes and Risk Factors 

Bad breath odor occurs when you exhale chemicals known as volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which include hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide. These are produced by different bacteria that coat your tongue, mouth, and parts of your throat.

A wide range of conditions can cause bad breath and raise your risk of chronic halitosis, including:

• Dry mouth: Smoking, drinking alcohol, certain medications, or other factors cause dry mouth, known clinically as xerostomia; insufficient saliva allows bad-breath-causing bacteria to thrive.
• Oral diseases: Dental issues like gum disease, gum infection, tooth decay or loss, and tooth abscess cause 80% to 90% of halitosis cases.
• Respiratory conditions: Infections and diseases of the respiratory system and sinuses, such as bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsilitis, and others, can contribute to bad breath.
• Digestive conditions: Chronic bad breath can also result from GERD, hiatal hernia, and other gastrointestinal tract diseases.
• Chronic disease: Kidney disease, liver problems, heart failure, and diabetes are among many chronic conditions that can also cause halitosis.

When to See a Dentist 

While it’s normal to have bad breath occasionally, it’s worth getting dental help if it persists. This is especially the case if the halitosis lingers despite changes to your lifestyle and oral hygiene habits. Call a dentist if you experience any other dental symptoms or have bad breath despite brushing and flossing regularly and using mouthwash.

Because halitosis can have a severe impact on mental health—and be a sign of more serious issues—the sooner you manage halitosis, the better off you’ll be. Understanding what’s causing the issue is the first step in figuring out how to treat it.

Summary

"Halitosis" is the clinical term for chronic bad breath. While occasional bad breath is normal, chronic bad breath is often a sign of a more serious health condition. This condition is caused by bacterial buildup in your mouth, tongue, and throat.

Management strategies include dental cleanings, mouthwash, avoiding certain foods, and staying hydrated. If you’re having trouble keeping your breath fresh despite brushing and flossing regularly, seek dental care to learn about your treatment options.