Teenagers that skip breakfast are twice as likely to have bad breath

Teenagers
Teenagers could develop bad breath from missing breakfast, a new study has shown

Teenagers missing breakfast could be one of the most common causes of bad breath, a new study has shown.

The study, published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, shows that teenagers are almost twice as likely to suffer from bad breath when they skip breakfast, with almost a fifth of the participants questioned admitting that they had missed breakfast, and of these one in three (36%) suffered with bad breath.

‘This study is very interesting as bad breath is a common problem throughout the world,’ Dr Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said.

‘Breakfast has always been widely labelled as “the most important meal of the day” and the effect of skipping it has long been known to be detrimental to people’s diets.

‘But now there is another reason not to miss breakfast, which can have a real positive impact on people’s lives.

‘Young people who suffer from bad breath may find that it has a significant impact on their ability to have normal social interactions as they go through one of the most defining times of their lives.

‘This has the potential to impact their personal development and those who experience this social rejection may exhibit low self-esteem.

‘By being aware of the causes of bad breath it gives people the ability to do something about it.’

Teenagers unaware

Around half of the teenagers presenting with bad breath in the study were aware that they suffer from it.

The research also showed that not cleaning the tongue thoroughly was another major factor in a person developing bad breath.

Bad breath is usually caused by the smelly gases released by the bacteria that coat the teeth, gums and tongue, but bad breath may also be a signifier of an underlying condition including infections in the throat, nose or lungs; sinusitis; bronchitis; diabetes; or liver or kidney problems.

‘Introducing an oral health education program that incorporates bad breath as a motivational tool may be beneficial in triggering teenagers into better oral health behaviour,’ Dr Carter adds.

‘We probably all know someone who has bad breath, but very few people feel brave enough to discuss the problem.

‘It is obviously a very delicate matter to tell someone they have bad breath.

‘However, once a person knows they have bad breath, they can get to the bottom of the problem and deal with whatever is causing it.

‘As the study shows people are unaware they have bad breath.

‘People may well try the “lick and sniff” test to see if their breath smells.

‘Simply lick the inside of your wrist, leave it to dry for a few seconds and then sniff.

‘If the smell is unpleasant the chances are your breath is too.’

Tips

The British Dental Health Foundation has offered advice on easy ways you can avoid bad breath.

  1. Ensure you brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time every day with fluoride toothpaste and ensure you clean your tongue properly with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to remove all harmful bacteria
  2. Clean between your teeth with ‘interdental’ brushes or floss at least once a day as brushing alone only cleans up to about 60% of the surface of your teeth
  3. Visit a dentist regularly, as often as the dentist recommends. A dentist will be able to spot any potential oral health problems in their early stages, and will give you advice on how to tackle them.
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