Jeez, You Took My Breath Away!

We have all been there – the man next to you is talking on his smartphone on the MRT train but his bad breath is keeping you at a distance. While it is a common problem that can affect anyone at any age, it is often treatable even though it can seem embarrassing.

- Alan Lim

Bad breath may seem orthodox but it can cause a great deal of stress and social anxiety. Dr Benjamin Yap, Dental Surgeon, Raffles Dental, gives a walkthrough of some of the more common reasons why one’s breath can smell bad and what can be done about it.

Demystifying Bad Breath

Medically termed as halitosis, bad breath can be a real confidence killer. According to Dr Yap, about one in four people are thought to have bad breath on a regular basis. So now what? Does it mean that by brushing your teeth more frequently or buying a breath spray can alleviate bad breath completely? The sad truth is that these remedies might not completely address the problem.

“Some patients with bad breath assume that they are more susceptible to this condition compared to others. They feel helpless and believe that little can be done to help. However, there are definitely ways to improve the situation, should one know the cause of their bad breath,” explained Dr Yap.

Poor Dental Hygiene