If you were too busy to sit down and enjoy your breakfast this morning, try not to stand too close to anyone else.
For a dentist has warned that skipping what is deemed the most important meal of the day can give you bad breath.
Dr Mervyn Druian, of the London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry, said that it allows odour-causing bacteria to linger in the mouth.
He also said that grabbing a sugary cereal bar in the morning poses a similar threat as it fuels bacteria in the mouth responsible for pungent breath.
A dentist has warned that skipping breakfast, what is deemed the most important meal of the day, can give you bad breath
Dr Druian said: ‘Skipping breakfast is one of the worst dirty habits for bad breath as it leaves the morning mouth dry allowing bacteria to linger.
‘However, choosing something quick like a cereal bar can supply the mouth with sugar creating an even greater environment for bacteria to grow.’
He revealed that having a piece of fresh fruit and a glass of water are the most effective ways to ‘flush the bacteria away’.
According to self-reported figures, bad breath, medically known as halitosis, strikes around 40 per cent of the population.
How is bad breath caused?
High levels of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) — the foul-smelling gases and toxins – are responsible for bad breath.
The smell is often most potent in the morning because of the open-mouth breathing overnight that dehydrates the mouth.
Dr Mervyn Druian, of the London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry, also said grabbing a sugary cereal bar in the morning fuels bacteria in the mouth responsible for bad breath
It is this dryness that allows bacteria to produce sulphur emissions, as saliva helps to wash away any odour-causing bugs.
Bacteria often congregates at the back of the tongue, an area which many don’t include in their daily tooth cleaning regime.
Bad breath: The causes
Gum disease is the most common cause of chronic halitosis because it leads to inflammation of the gums.
This makes them swell and separate from the teeth, creating gaps called pockets that trap the bacteria responsible.
In rare cases, bad breath can be a clue to a more general health problem, so it should not be ignored.
To avoid bad breath, adults are advised to brush their teeth twice a day, gargle with mouthwash after every meal and drink two pints of water to keep the mouth moist.
Dr Druin’s claim comes after a study earlier this month found that skipping breakfast sends your risk of heart disease and obesity skyrocketing.
Tufts University researchers found the diet hardens the arteries by sending glucose levels soaring – a similar bodily response to starvation.