What Causes Bad Breath?

The topic of what causes bad breath is a common issue, due to the fact that we are social creatures.

If we didn’t have to talk with each other face to face, it wouldn’t be a problem at all, right?  But we do, and it is…

Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, is a common oral problem and there are many different causes for bad mouth odor.

To know whether you suffer from halitosis, try a simple bad breath test by licking the back of your hand or the inside of your wrist.

Wait for the saliva to dry for five seconds and then smell it.  If you smell a bad odor, you can be pretty sure that your breath is the same, too.

What Are The Common Causes Of Bad Breath?

There are a number of reasons for bad breath, but foremost among them, bad breath is usually caused by a build-up of excessive oral bacteria in the mouth and tongue as a result of food debris, plaque or gum disease.

Additionally, watch what you eat.  Eating certain foods that contain onions or garlic are also known to cause bad breath.

That’s because they contain odor-causing volatile sulfur compounds that can cause breath to smell bad.

Consumption of alcohol, coffee or diary products can also cause the breath to smell unpleasant.

Smoking or use of tobacco products irritates the gums, causes loss of taste, discoloration of the teeth and definitely makes for bad breath.

Individuals who smoke are also more likely to suffer from gum problems such as periodontal disease, which is well  known to cause bad breath.

Certain medications like antidepressants, diuretics and aspirin can lead to a decrease in saliva production, causing dry mouth (xerostomia).

Since our saliva is our body’s natural mouthwash to help cleanse and reduce bacteria in our mouth, a lack of saliva production can result in our breath smelling bad.

Similarly, due to the reduced activity of our salivary glands during sleep, most people wake up in the morining with foul smelling breath.

On other rare occasions, bad breath can also be caused by other health or medical problems such as infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, throat or tonsil infection, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailments.

Remember, the most common causes of bad breath are preventable and can be easily treated once the sufferer understands the fundamental causes of their bad breath.

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