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Halitosis Self-Assessment
A stigma-free way to check persistent bad breath and recognise when masking products are not enough.
Overview
People often cannot judge their own breath reliably. Ask a trusted person at an agreed time or use a dentist's assessment rather than repeatedly smelling your hand. Most persistent oral malodour relates to tongue coating, gum disease, food stagnation, dry mouth, tobacco, or untreated dental disease; some cases have medical causes.
Key takeaways
- ✓Do not rely on a single self-smell test.
- ✓Mints and mouthwash may mask odour without treating the cause.
- ✓Tongue cleaning and interdental cleaning help when coating or plaque is present.
- ✓Persistent symptoms deserve dental assessment before assuming a stomach cause.
What you can do
- 1Brush with fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth, and gently clean the tongue.
- 2Drink water and review dry-mouth medicines with the prescriber; do not stop medicines yourself.
- 3Avoid tobacco, areca nut, and frequent alcohol mouthwash.
- 4Keep a one-week log of dryness, bleeding, diet, and feedback from a trusted person.
When to book a dentist
- !Breath concern persists for two weeks despite good cleaning.
- !There is bleeding, loose teeth, pain, pus, dry mouth, or a persistent nasal/throat symptom.
- !The concern causes distress despite others not noticing odour.