Bad breath, medically referred to as halitosis, might be the result of something you ate or may signify an oral health issue or broader medical issue. The following are some possible causes of bad breath.
Causes of Bad Breath
- General Oral Health- Bad breath is often caused by poor oral hygiene. By not brushing your teeth consistently, food particles will stay in your mouth, and an accumulation of plaque forms on your teeth. Your tongue traps food particles and bacteria, which cause your bad breath. Poor oral hygiene will also cause cavities, dental plaque buildup, and gum disease, which all cause bad breath. Practicing consistent oral care with brushing, flossing, and mouthwash is the best preventative defense for bad breath.
- Eating Flavorful Food and Drink- After eating certain foods, like onions, garlic, some vegetables, or spices, odor-causing food particles may enter your bloodstream and be carried to your lungs, affecting your breath.
- Coffee and Bad Breath- A cup of coffee can leave you with bad breath. Coffee might cause stinky breath because of its intense taste, but also the impact it has on saliva production. The caffeine in coffee will reduce saliva production. Less saliva increases odor-causing bacteria.
- Alcohol and Bad Breath- Alcohol consumption will cause bad breath. Drinking alcohol results in a decrease in saliva production, which promotes odor-causing bacteria.
- High-Sugar Diets- A diet high in sugar and protein will also result in bad breath. A high sugar diet can lead to accelerated plaque buildup and bad breath because of the sugar's interaction with existing bacteria.
- High-Protein or Low-Carb Diets- If your diet is either low in carbs or elevated in protein, it will also cause bad breath. If your body does not consume adequate carbs, it changes your metabolism while your body breaks down fats and proteins for energy, which causes bad breath. Eat a balanced and nutritious diet.
- Stress Can Cause Bad Breath- Breathing during anxiety-causing panic will dry out your mouth and make the aroma unpleasant. Stress-related fasting will also affect your digestion by starving your stomach of necessary enzymes.
- Smoking and Smoker’s Breath- Tobacco products all cause bad breath, leading to more serious oral health issues. Your mouth will smell like an ashtray, damaging gum tissue.
- Digestive Issues- Poor digestion, constipation, or bowel disorders will result in bad breath because of your stomach.
- Dry Mouth- Saliva actually keeps your mouth clean by constantly removing the food particles that cause bad breath. If the natural production of saliva stops, bad breath follows. This happens during sleep, causing your breath to smell after waking up.
- Prescription Medication- Some medications have the side effect of dry mouth. When your mouth becomes dry, saliva production decreases, and odor-causing bacteria increase.
Symptoms Related to Possible Illness
Bad breath is most often the result of odor-causing bacteria buildup, but there are other health conditions that can contribute to the issue. Having constant bad breath may be a warning sign of a disease or an illness. Diabetes, sinus problems, postnasal drip, respiratory and tonsil infections, kidney and liver issues, as well as a blood disorder, might cause bad breath. Bad breath can be a symptom of lung or stomach cancer, or metabolic disorders.