How to decide whether you have bad breath
If you think that you have bad breath, it is worth finding out what the true situation is. Fresh breath centres have been set up in some cities, where the smelly chemicals in your breath are measured by a halimeter. But there are other ways of deciding whether you have bad breath, such as the following.
- If you find your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth it is almost certain that you have bad breath as well.
- Inspect your gums to see if they look red and swollen in places; if they do, it is likely you have bad breath.
- It is sometimes suggested that you can detect your own bad breath by breathing out through your mouth into a paper bag, and then breathing in rapidly from the bag through your nose. You might catch a whiff by this method, but usually it does not work because your nose is so used to your own breath smell.
- Put your tongue out as far as you can; lick your upper arm, or the inner surface of your wrist, wait 4 seconds and smell where you licked.
- Put a piece of gauzy cloth on your tongue, as far back as you can, for a few moments. Take it out, let it dry and then sniff it.
- If you are a smoker you probably have smoker’s breath.
- Ask your dentist or dental hygienist; they are very used to being asked this question.
- Ask your partner or a close friend, though they may tell you unprompted!
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Friday, February 12th 2010
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How to decide whether you have bad breath
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