Can dentists smell your breath?

Your dentist will likely smell both the breath from your mouth and the breath from your nose and rate the odor on a scale. Because the back of the tongue is most often the source of the smell, your dentist may also scrape it and rate its odor.

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Should I tell my dentist about my bad breath?

Get help for your bad breath

You would not be embarrassed to talk to your medical doctor about a sprained ankle, so do not be embarrassed about talking to the hygienist about bad breath. Your hygienist is there to help you achieve oral health. That includes providing a bad breath treatment when needed.

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Why do I have bad breath but good dental hygiene?

Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider.

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Can a dental cleaning fix bad breath?

Plaque and tartar build-up is one of the main causes of bad breath, which makes sense considering plaque is essentially a film of bacteria. By removing the plaque and tartar during a dental cleaning procedure, the dentist or hygienist is often able to improve the patient's breath as well.

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How do I know if my breath stinks?

Need to check how your breath smells quickly? Try the sniff test—there are a couple of ways to do it. If you lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment, then take a whiff, you should be able to get an idea if your breath has an odor too. Another method is to floss toward the back of your mouth, then smell the floss.

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why your breath REALLY stinks (dental hygienist explains)

26 related questions found

Will bad breath go away after deep cleaning?

A deep dental cleaning can sometimes relieve the problem, but treating halitosis permanently requires treating the underlying causes. Improve your oral cleaning habits to make bad breath less chronic and severe.

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How can I cure bad breath permanently?

Brushing your teeth with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice a day (preferably after eating) Floss between your teeth daily. If you wear dentures, remove and clean them every night. Brush your tongue (from the back of the tongue) with a tongue scraper.

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How do you hide bad breath when talking?

More Ways to Mask Bad Breath
  1. Drink water. You want to keep your mouth moist. ...
  2. Chew sugarless gum. ...
  3. Pop some breath mints.

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When I floss my back teeth it stinks?

A regular bad smell or taste after flossing could indicate that you have a dental problem, especially if you've noticed that your breath smells less than pleasant at other times. For example, you could have hidden decay on a tooth or problems with your gums.

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Can you smell breath when kissing?

Bad breath can't be passed on to another person via kissing.

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Why does my breath smell but I brush my teeth?

The bacteria that cause bad breath can hide in cavities in your teeth. This makes it difficult to get rid of the bacteria when you're brushing your teeth because it's hidden in places that you can't reach. Similarly, these bacteria can hide in deep pockets caused by gum disease.

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Will fillings fix bad breath?

Common treatments for cavities are dental fillings and root canal treatment. These treatments will not only stop the cavity from developing further but also restore the structure of your tooth and, of course, your bad breath.

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How can I smell my own breath?

One way is to lick your wrist, let it dry for a second, and sniff it - you would know if your breath stinks. Another way is to take a floss or tongue scraper and gently move it towards the back of your mouth or tongue and then smell it. This should also give you a fair assessment whether your breath smells bad.

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Why do gums smell when flossing?

The most common reason for malodor on the floss is gum disease or periodontal disease. The anaerobic bacteria that are responsible for gum disease reside under the gums and these produce what are known as volatile sulfur compounds, otherwise known as VSCs.

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Why does my breath smell in the morning even when I brush my teeth at night?

Why is morning breath a morning problem? Saliva. Specifically, saliva production decreases while you're sleeping, leaving you with dry mouth at night. Since saliva usually flushes out odor-causing particles, you're left with bacterial buildup that makes its presence known with its distinctive aroma.

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How do you tell if people think you have bad breath?

Symptoms of halitosis
  1. A white coating on the tongue especially at the back of the tongue.
  2. Dry mouth.
  3. Build up around teeth.
  4. Post-nasal drip, or mucous.
  5. Morning bad breath and a burning tongue.
  6. Thick saliva and a constant need to clear your throat.
  7. Constant sour, bitter metallic taste.

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What is the nicest way to tell someone their breath stinks?

Let them know gently.

Some ideas for considerate, compassionate conversation starters include: “I noticed something, and I'm not sure if you're aware, but your breath smells a bit off." “Sorry to mention this, but you have some bad breath right now, and I really don't want anyone else to say anything to you about it.”

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How do you know if someone thinks you have bad breath?

Just lick the inside of your wrist and sniff - if the smell is bad, you can be fairly sure that your breath is too. Or, ask a very good friend to be absolutely honest with you; but do make sure they are a true friend.

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What are 3 possible causes of halitosis?

Halitosis may be caused by the following:
  • Certain foods. The things you eat are linked to your oral health, including your breath. ...
  • Poor oral health care. ...
  • Improper cleaning of dentures. ...
  • Odor-causing bacteria on the tongue. ...
  • Periodontal disease. ...
  • Dry mouth (Xerostomia). ...
  • Tobacco products.

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Why is it so hard to get rid of bad breath?

If you have bad breath that doesn't go away, schedule an appointment with your dentist. If halitosis is due to poor oral hygiene, a dental cleaning or periodontal (gum) procedure should help. If you have healthy teeth and gums, then halitosis may be linked to an issue in another part of your body.

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Why do I have bad breath everyday?

Postnasal drip, respiratory and tonsil infections, sinus problems, diabetes, liver and kidney issues, as well as certain blood disorders can all cause bad breath. In some rarer cases, bad breath could be a sign of cancer or other serious conditions like metabolic disorders.

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Why are dentists pushing deep cleaning?

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, and suffer from bone loss, inflammation, and/or tartar has accumulated beneath the gumline, then the hygienist will need to clean 'deeper' below the gumline, and this is often known as a dental deep cleaning.

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What does rotten breath smell like?

Bacteria that live in the mouth can make compounds that have sulfur. These compounds are especially stinky. They can smell like rotten eggs or onion, for example. If bad breath isn't cleared up by brushing your teeth or using mouthwash, it may be a sign of another issue.

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Can my breath smell without me knowing it?

"Most people do have bad breath and just do not know it," he says. Walking around with bad breath is obviously something that most people would prefer to avoid. But before you can cure bad breath, you need to be able to tell if you have it.

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Do I smell if I can smell myself?

It would be amazing if you could sniff yourself and immediately pick up on any emanating odors, but alas, life isn't so simple. According to Lifehacker, it can be quite difficult to detect your own body odors because the receptors in your nose shut down after smelling the same scent for too long.

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