Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath or halitosis, is the foul odor of the breath. It can be of two types - transient and persistent. Transient bad breath is temporary, i.e. you can get rid of this type of bad breath by rinsing, brushing and cleansing of teeth. Persistent bad breath is a relatively serious condition, wherein the problem is of permanent nature. As far as transient bad breath is concerned, the intensity varies with factors like food items having strong odor (garlic, onion), smoking, etc. It can be tackled with maintaining basic oral hygiene, dental health and some lifestyle changes. But, persistent bad breath should be treated after diagnosing the cause.

Generally, bad breath emanates from the mouth itself. Diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis, postnasal drip, chronic sinus infections, chronic acid reflux, liver or kidney problems, diabetes, and respiratory tract infections can also cause bad breath. Let us find out the causes of bad breath.

Food: Consumption of foods (garlic, onion) with volatile oils can cause bad breath. These pungent oils are absorbed into the blood stream during digestion. In the lungs the pungent smell is transferred to the air exhaled through the nose. Sometimes, bad breath caused by having onion and garlic may last up to 72 hours. The saliva itself can retain a pungent smell for a long period, resulting in bad breath.

Poor Oral Hygiene and Periodontal Diseases: Poor oral hygiene can result in accumulation of food residue in the mouth. The various types of bacteria present in the mouth act upon the food particles, releasing hydrogen sulfide vapors, which causes the foul smell. Without regular brushing and flossing, these bacteria along with the food particles produce a colorless sticky film on the teeth. With time, this film transforms to a hard substance called plaque, which can cause tooth decay and periodontal diseases with time. The cavities formed will house food particles and odor-causing bacteria.

Nose and Throat: Foul smell can be from the nose too. Any foreign substances stuck in the nose can be one of the reasons. It may be due to sinus infections, which causes discharge from the sinuses to pass through the back of the throat, resulting in foul smell. Some throat infections also end up with bad breath. Bacterial action in the tonsil can cause a mild bad breath. The main reason for bad breath arising from this area is, the calcified matter formed in the crevices of the tonsil, which is termed as tonsilloliths or tonsil stones.

Tobacco and Alcohol: Both tobacco and alcohol causes drying out of the mouth, which results in foul odor. Apart from this, smoking is associated to tar, nicotine and other substances derived from tobacco's smoke, which accumulates in the mouth causing periodontal diseases and bad breath. Likewise, alcohol consumption may result in digestive problems, which can also be linked to bad breath.

Dry Mouth and Dieting: It is common to feel bad breath when you wake up in the morning. It is due to the reduction in saliva production during sleep, as the mouth is kept shut for a longer period. Hence, saliva has a very important role in the cleansing and moisturizing of the mouth. The accumulation of this oral fluid in the mouth, promotes swallowing tendency, which in turn helps the mouth in getting rid of the food debris, bacteria and dead cells. Saliva has the power to kill the bacteria in the mouth. Drying out of mouth means, reduction in saliva production and results in bad breath. Severe dieting can also produce bad breath, (smell of fruit or nail polish remover) due to the breakdown of chemicals (ketoacidosis) during fasting.

Diseases and Other Causes: Some types of cancer can cause bad breath, but lung infections and abscesses can result in very foul-smelling breath. Kidney failure produces a urine-like smell, whereas a 'fishy' smell is developed in case of liver failure. Even diabetes and chronic acid reflux can cause bad breath. Some people may experience bad breath due to lactose intolerance. Consuming milk and other dairy products is the reason for this. Dehydration leading to digestive problems and constipation is another reason. Dentures (artificial devices constructed to replace missing teeth) can also cause this problem, if not cleaned properly.

Bad breath can be due to any of the reasons stated above. Maintaining oral hygiene by regular, brushing, flossing and rinsing, is one of the easiest bad breath solutions. Always remember to clean your tongue with a toothbrush or tongue cleaner, because a tongue coating of food debris, dead cells, postnasal drip and bacteria is formed continuously, causing bad breath. If proper cleaning of the mouth does not provide any relief, then consult your doctor or a dentist.