What causes bad breath? (and what you can do about it)

Also known as halitosis, or the less than pleasant odor that comes from the mouth, bad breath can have a variety of underlying causes, depending on the person. Unpleasant for everyone and often embarrassing in social situations, finding the root cause is key to eliminating it altogether.

Poor Oral Hygiene 

Perhaps the most common and easiest to fix, poor oral hygiene leads to a buildup of food between the teeth, which in turn collect bacteria and cause bad breath. Food collected on the tongue or gums can rot as well, leading to a nasty odor.

What you eat

Foods like garlic and onions can lead to bad breath as after they are absorbed into the bloodstream, and then transferred to the lungs where it is expelled.

Unfortunately there’s no fix other than to wait for you body to eliminate the food, as mouthwash or brushing your teeth will just mask the smell.

Dry mouth (xerostomia)

Saliva helps keep the mouth clean by removing food particles from between the teeth, so when dry mouth occurs, this is no longer happening. Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of things like medications, gland problems, breathing through the mouth rather than the nose, and smoking.

Dieting

If you are on a minimal diet, and go long stretches of time without eating, as your body burns fat it releases certain chemicals through your breath.

Medical Disorders

There are a variety of medical conditions that can lead to bad breath, including respiratory tract infections, acid reflux, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, and liver or kidney ailment.

Easiest treatment

Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day, flossing at least once, using a tongue scraper, and being sure to keep up with dental check ups and cleanings.

Not sure what’s causing your bad breath? Make an appointment today as your first step towards the solution.