Do you often have to pause your breathing when you run into someone with a foul breath? Or worse, do you find people around you wrinkling up their noses when they get too close to you? Yes, bad breath is common and many of us may not realise we are suffering from it! Let's busts some myths and facts about this issue;

1 You can't tell if you have bad breath - The issue is that we don't smell what we breathe out as the mouth & nose "communicate" at the back of our mouths. Besides, we become accustomed to the scent of our own mouth. So unless someone tells us that our breath is smelling foul, we may not know it!

2 The person standing next to you can make out that you have bad breath - A foul-smelling mouth is immediately evident to anyone who is standing close-by - yes, it's a strong smell!

3 Excessive brushing of teeth does not cure bad breath - Your bad breath may be due to some issue other than poor oral hygiene, and efficiently brushing your teeth may not be the solution. What you eat or drink, a dry mouth and medical conditions such as sinus infections, lung infections, liver failure and GERD
(Gastroesophageal reflux disease) can all lead to it, and it's necessary to cure them to get rid of your breath issues.

4 Excessive brushing damages your teeth over a period of time - In fact, you should avoid brushing your teeth too often and too hard as it can lead to toothbrush abrasion - sensitive teeth & receding gums - as it wears down the enamel. Use a good mouthwash instead!

5 Chewing gum cannot eliminate bad breath - It can only mask offending odours temporarily, but cannot get rid of the bacteria that may be causing your breath to smell unpleasant.

6 Professional tooth cleaning is the best solution - Since it removes plaque and bacteria, it will definitely help get rid of any issues with bad breath.