Low-carbohydrate diets are among the key culprits in a recent increase in halitosis (bad breath), according to a new report from the Irish Dental Association (IDA).
Poor oral hygiene habits and an increase in the number of people maintaining their natural teeth for longer were also cited for the growing concerns about chronic bad breath.
More than 500 types of bacteria can be found in the mouth with more than one billion bacteria present in each square centimetre. According to the IDA's Dr Paul O'Reilly, some bacteria are necessary to maintain the health of the mouth, but other types react with the air and create unwanted, unpleasant odours.
"This isn't the kind of temporary bad breath that happens when we eat certain foods, like coffee or a bag of cheese and onion crisps," he said. "It's more permanent, created by trapped bacteria."
A number of popular diets, including the Atkins diet and the Lipotrim meal replacement system, have been found to complicate the problem, creating new odours as the body reacts to a change in nutrition. The breaking down of proteins and fat for energy creates a condition called ketosis that produces a noticeable sulphur-like smell on the breath.
"It's a bad side effect of the diet, something that will happen if you're eating nothing but protein or just skipping meals and trying to reduce your carbs," Dr O'Reilly said.
And on any diet, bacteria tend to thrive on the surface of natural teeth, which people are now maintaining longer than ever before. Long-term halitosis can be remedied through a combination of a well-balanced diet, proper hydration and good brushing, but, according to Dr O'Reilly, most people fail to take all the steps they should.
"We're actually supposed to brush for three minutes, but we usually don't," he said. "There was a study done in Italy where participants were asked to brush their teeth for three minutes, but most of them misjudged the time - the average was 32 seconds."
Though it adds more time to a morning or evening routine, Dr O'Reilly suggests flossing, using a mouthwash and brushing the tongue as thoroughly as the teeth. Drinking more water throughout the day also assists in breaking down bacteria build-up. "There's a growing awareness of the problem and more products like breath fresheners out there," Dr O'Reilly said. "But if it's a bacterial problem, you'll only be masking it."