Dentist shows trick you can use to check yourself for bad breath
I think we can all agree that no one likes smelly breath, but often it's hard to tell if you're the one who needs a tic tac.
Watch below as a dentist has revealed a quick and easy trick to check for bad breath:
Dr. Wei Jian, from Kuala Lumpur, (@drweijian) has shared a very simple method of checking for smelly breath and it takes about 10 seconds.
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Before we get into that though, it's important to understand why we get bad breath (sometimes called halitosis) in the first place.
The NHS say that it's a 'very common' issue and it's often easily treated.
Possible causes of bad breath include:
- eating or drinking strong-smelling or spicy foods and drinks
- problems with your teeth or gums, such as gum disease, holes in your teeth or an infection
- crash dieting
- some medical conditions, such as dry mouth, tonsillitis and acid reflux
- smoking
OK, so in order to check for ourselves, Dr. Jian says you need to first lick the back of your hand.
Simply wave your hand and allow it to dry - then 'take a long hard sniff'.
If your hand smells, then so does your mouth.
According to the NHS, the best way staying on top of it is is to keep your teeth, tongue and mouth clean.
For most cases, the following will most likely get rid of your smelly breath:
- gently brush your teeth and gums at least twice a day for 2 minutes
- use a fluoride toothpaste
- gently clean your tongue once a day using a tongue scraper or cleaner
- clean between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss at least once a day
- get regular dental check-ups
- keep dentures clean and remove them at night
- use sugar-free mints or chewing gum after having strong-smelling food and drinks
- try using an antibacterial mouthwash or toothpaste
If symptoms don't improve after trying all of the above, you should go and see a dentist.
Apparently one thing you should always steer away from is chewing ice.
Another TikTok dentist has shared a horrifying video of what might happen if you like to chew ice with your teeth.
The doctor, who goes by the TikTok handle @the.teeth.doc, captioned the video: "Don't chew ice guys!"
In the viral clip, he uses a utensil to show a set of damaged teeth - one had completely broken as a result of ice chewing.
In the text overlay of another vid, he gives an explanation of why major damage might be caused to your teeth.
He said: "Pica is defined as 'craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value, such as ice, clay, soil and paper'.
"Tag your friends and warn them.
"Chewing ice breaks teeth and can be a symptom of a bigger issue such as anaemia."
Anish Vij