Why some pipo mouth dey smell bad and how to fix am?

Wetin dey cause bad breath?

Around di world, one of di main causes of bad breath na periodontitis, also known as gum recession.

"Half of di adult population go get some form of gum disease," na so Dr Praveen Sharma, associate professor of restorative dentistry for di University of Birmingham for di UK, tok to BBC What's Up Docs? programme.

"You fit think of bad breath, objective bad breath as bad breath wey dey come from di oral cavity," e add, referring to di mouth.

"Dat one probably account for 90% of bad breath."

Di oda 10% get oda causes.

"Poorly controlled diabetes go get a certain kind of breath," Dr Sharma tok.

"If you get patients with gastrointestinal problems, gastric reflux, dem go get a kind of a sour breath. So, you go get systemic diseases wey dey manifest for di oral cavity."

So, wetin pesin fit do about dis?

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If you no clean di bacteria wey dey settle between your teeth and gums, e fit lead to micro-wounds and subsequent bleeding gums. Dis na gingivitis, di early stage of gum disease, but di good news be say e dey reversible.

"Gingivitis na di inflammation of di gums and you go notice am as your gums go dey look red, swollen, and go dey bleed wen you brush," Dr Sharma tok. "Dat one go progress to periodontitis."

Check your gums for redness, swelling or bleeding while brushing, but no worry too much becos e still get time to take action.

"One of di things wey patients dey do, be say dem go avoid to brush di gums wey dey sore wen dem dey brush am, becoa dem go dey think: 'Oh, I dey do more damage, I dey do somtin wrong, dat na why e dey bleed,'" Dr Sharma tok.

"E almost dey reversed - you suppose use bleeding gums as sign to say: 'Oh, I need to brush a little bit sake of say I miss am bifor.'"

Dr Sharma say you gatz find time to brush properly.

"You no wan to dey brush your teeth or clean your teeth while you dey do oda tins," e tok.

Ideally you go need to dey stand in front of your mirror and focus properly.

Many right-handed pipo unconsciously dey brush dia left side longer, and left-handed pipo dey brush dia right side longer, wey fit lead to more inflammation on di side wey dey receive less attention.

Be aware of which hand you dey use brush and consciously try to brush both sides equally and carefully.

Dr Shamra suggest starting with inter-dental cleaning first.

"In terms of removing plaque and helping gum health, e beta to use interdental brushes," e tok.

Afta using interdental brushes, e good to get a system wen moving your toothbrush in your mouth and no rush. Remember say each tooth get three surfaces: di outer, chewing and inner. All of dem need to dey cleaned carefully. E fit come as surprise to many, but di minimum time for brushing your teeth na two minutes.

Many pipo brush by holding dia toothbrush at 90-degree angle to di tooth and pressing back and forth, but dis method fit cause gum recession.

Hold di toothbrush at about a 45-degree angle to di tooth and brush gently. Brush by directing di bristles toward di gum line on di lower teeth and upward toward di gum line on di upper teeth. Dis go help remove bacteria wey fit dey hide under di gum line.

Many of us fit don learn say brushing your teeth after a meal na di right tin to do. But reason am again.

"Ideally, you suppose brush bifor you chop your breakfast," Dr Sharma tok. "You no wan brush afta you don chop somtin acidic - e go get a softening effect on di mineral substance of di tooth, di enamel and di dentine."

Di acid inside food go cause di protective enamel on di surface of your teeth and di dentine underneath to soften, so brushing your teeth immediately after a meal fit damage your tooth enamel.

"If you prefer to brush afta you don chop your breakfast, den you suppose leave some time between your breakfast and brushing your teeth," Dr Sharma tok.

You suppose rinse out your mouth and wait small.

Also, while brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day dey ideal, some pipo fit find am sufficient to brush properly once a day.

Wen you sleep, your saliva flow dey decrease, wey go allow bacteria to do more damage to your teeth during di night. So, if you go clean your teeth thoroughly once a day, di best time to do so na for night.

Use toothbrush wit medium stiffness bristles.

Toothpastes no need to dey expensive.

"Funny enof as long as e get fluoride inside, I dey happy," Dr Sharma tok.

Di minerals dey strengthen tooth enamel and make am more resistant to decay.

Afta brushing, spit but no rinse to allow di toothpaste and fluoride to remain in di mouth to help prevent tooth decay.

Mouthwash also dey worth using if you dey experience early signs of gum disease, as e dey help to reduce plaque and bacterial buildup. But no use am afta you brush as e fit wash away di fluoride wey dey inside di toothpaste.

If gum recession (periodontitis) don dey progress, you go notice say spaces go begin form between di teeth, and as di bone wey dey hold di teeth dey erode, di teeth fit become loose.

If dis condition no dey controlled, bone loss fit reach such a serious level wey be say di teeth fit fall out. You fit also experience persistent bad breath. If you experience all dis symptoms, see your dentist immediately.

Finally, here na some quick tips to freshen your breath:

- Drink plenty water becos bacteria fit grow wen your mouth dey dry.

- Clean your tongue with tongue scraper. Dis one dey remove food particles, bacteria, and dead cells dem wey fit lead to bad breath.

- If you no dey sure of how fresh your breath dey, leave am to friend or family member to check for you. But choose carefully who you ask oh!

Adapted from BBC's What's Up Docs podcast episode dated 29 April 2025.