Bad breath can have a variety of sources. The most common causes could be your poor oral hygiene, a sinus infection, vomiting, GERD, ketoacidosis, or liver failure.
Everyone confronts bad breath at some point. It certainly is troubling to have bad breath after brushing, especially if mouthwash does not seem to help.
There are some harmless causes for bad breath, but some issues that cause bad breath are more serious and require medical attention.
Possible Bad Breath Causes
There are a variety of causes of bad breath. Here are a few:
- Poor Hygiene- Poor oral hygiene can cause bad breath. Failing to brush and floss your teeth every day will make your breath smell because of the constant buildup of plaque and bacteria. Food particles that remain because you did not floss stay between your teeth, causing bad breath. Gum disease is also a result of poor oral hygiene and can cause bad breath. Neglecting your daily oral health care at home will lead to an accumulation of bacteria in your mouth, which causes an odor. Restorative appliances like dentures or bridges that are not thoroughly cleaned will also cause halitosis.
- Sinus Infections- Sinus and respiratory infections will cause your breath to smell. These may be the result of viral colds, strep throat, bronchitis, and more. When bacteria travel from your nose into your throat, it will result in bad breath. Other signs of sinus infection include thick nasal drainage, a cold that lasts longer than 10–14 days, a low-grade fever, headaches, irritability and fatigue, postnasal drip, sore throat, cough, or swollen eyes.
- Bowel Obstruction- An intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency when a blockage forms in either your small or large intestine. A blockage in your intestines causes bad breath due to the trapped feces in your intestines, and from any food that cannot move down your intestinal tract. Besides bad breath, intestinal obstruction will also cause decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, and severe cramps.
- Vomiting- Prolonged vomiting and the resulting dehydration will also result in bad breath from dry mouth. Saliva naturally constantly cleans your mouth and reduces odor, but when dehydrated, you are not producing enough saliva.
- GERD- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, will result in bad breath. This is when your stomach acid flows backward into your esophagus. This acidic backwash irritates your esophageal lining, creating discomfort. If you have GERD, you might experience mild to severe reflux that happens a few times a week, heartburn after eating, difficulty swallowing, a persistent cough, laryngitis, the feeling of a lump in your throat, asthma that is worse, or the inability to stay asleep.
- Ketoacidosis- Ketoacidosis is a serious complication if you have diabetes. It happens when your body produces an excessive level of acid in your blood called ketones. It is a medical emergency that requires your immediate attention. Ketoacidosis will cause bad breath from the dry mouth or associated vomiting.
- Liver Failure- Liver failure can be chronic or acute. Acute liver failure can happen quickly and requires immediate medical attention. It can also cause bad breath from dehydration. A person with liver failure might experience weight loss, fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, jaundice, itching, diarrhea, or easy bruising or bleeding.