Bad breath, or halitosis, can have you reaching for chewing gum on a regular basis – but you should really be visiting your dentist instead. Dentists advise that if you suffer from bad breath to the point of not being comfortable in social situations, feeling anxious, and having a constant supply of mouthwash and chewing gum, it might be time to do some investigating.

While the cause of your bad breath could be entirely non-dental related, there’s every chance it could be as well. Therefore, there’s no time like the present to make an appointment to see your dentist today. In the meantime, we’ve covered some of the most common causes of bad breath below.

Poor Dental Hygiene

One of the most common causes of bad breath is a failure to take care of your oral health. If you don’t brush or floss your teeth daily as recommended by your dentist, you may find that you have bad breath more often than not. When you don’t brush your teeth, food particles become lodged in your teeth and a film of bacteria and plaque forms in your mouth. Over time, this plaque irritates your gums and can even lead to periodontitis.

Even if you have dentures, you’re still at risk of bad breath. If your dentures don’t fit properly or you don’t clean them regularly, they too can become laden with bacteria, with the result being bad breath.