Vertical video optimized for mobile viewing.
Brushing only cleans the surfaces it reaches. If bad breath lasts, the most common source is still your mouth: gum disease, tartar under the gumline, or bacteria on your tongue. Acid reflux, stomach problems and post-nasal drip can also cause it, and those need your doctor. A cleaning and gum check will tell you which one you are dealing with.
More about periodontal gum evaluation in Riverview.
Answered by the team at Bright White Dental Hygiene Clinic in Riverview, NB, serving Moncton and Dieppe.
Full transcript of the video answer on why you still have bad breath after brushing, given by Amber-Lee, IRDH, at Bright White Dental Hygiene Clinic in Riverview, NB, serving Moncton and Dieppe.
Question: Why Do I Still Have Bad Breath After Brushing?
“There's a couple of reasons why you could have bad breath. The first reason could be from periodontal disease. So if you haven't had a cleaning in a long time, that leaves a smell as well, a deep smell. Another reason could be intestinally. So if you're having acid reflux or stomach issues, that can bring up a bad smell. If you find you have a post-nasal drip, that can cause a bad smell, and you should see your doctor for that.”
Reviews of bad breath research put the source inside the mouth in about 80 to 90 percent of cases. The smell comes from bacteria breaking down food and tissue. They live on the back of the tongue, between the teeth and in the pockets around inflamed gums, and a toothbrush reaches very little of that.
Mouthwash covers the smell for a while, but the bacteria are still there. That is why the breath comes back within hours.
Amber-Lee calls it a deep smell. When tartar has been sitting under the gums for a long time, the gums get inflamed and pockets form around the teeth. Only a professional cleaning can reach those pockets. If it has been years since your last one, this is the first thing to rule out.
Brush your tongue gently, as far back as you comfortably can. Floss once a day, and smell the floss afterward: a bad smell from one spot tells you where to look. Drink water through the day, because a dry mouth makes breath worse.
If your gums get a clean bill of health and the smell stays, the cause is probably outside your mouth. Heartburn, stomach trouble and a constant drip at the back of your throat are all worth raising with your family doctor. Amber-Lee will tell you if she thinks that is the next step.
Questions people search right after this one.
Short video answers from Amber-Lee, IRDH — 16 years experience.
Why gums bleed, what gingivitis really means, and how regular cleanings protect your smile.
Watch the answer
Dry mouth, extra tartar, and gums that bleed less than they should.
Watch the answer
A cavity between the teeth, or gum disease from plaque and tartar.
Watch the answerBrowse the full Video FAQ Library
Want to see more of our judgment-free dental tips? Tell Google to prioritize our answers and videos in your search and AI feeds.
Book a cleaning and gum check with Amber-Lee's team in Riverview. No referral needed.
