What Are the Causes of Halitosis?

Halitosis, or bad breath, affects nearly all of us at some point, causing embarrassment in social situations. Halitosis usually results from the foods you eat and the cleanliness of your teeth, but bad breath can also be caused by certain medical conditions. If bad breath persists despite your best efforts to keep your breath minty fresh, see your doctor or dentist.

Food

Your breath is affected by the foods you eat. Certain foods have a stronger odor than others, resulting in a case of bad breath until you brush your teeth. Some foods are just naturally stinky--such as onions, garlic and some vegetables--and linger on your breath long after you eat them. After onions and garlic are digested, they're absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to your lungs. This causes the odor to flow from your mouth every time you exhale. The garlic and onion odor can last for up to 3 days after you've actually eaten food containing garlic or onion.

Dry Mouth

Saliva has an important purpose in your mouth. It keeps your mouth moist and removes dead cells from your gums, cheeks and tongue. When you don't produce enough saliva, dead cells build up in these areas and start to decompose, resulting in halitosis. Morning breath is the result of less saliva production during the night, but some medications and salivary gland conditions can also cause dry mouth. Breathing through your mouth can also tend to dry out your mouth and cause bad breath. If dry mouth is a problem, you can remedy the problem by drinking more liquids, eating sugarless candy or using a prescription artificial saliva product if the problem is severe.

Smoking

Cigarette smoking causes bad breath and stains teeth, irritates gums, dries out the mouth and reduces the ability to taste foods. Smokers are at an increased risk for developing periodontal disease and oral cancer. If you're a smoker, it's particularly important to see your dentist on a regular basis in order to prevent the onset of periodontal disease.

Dental Hygiene

Brushing your teeth and flossing every day can help keep bad breath to a minimum. When you neglect to brush or floss, tiny pieces of food remain in your mouth, collecting bacteria. Eventually, plaque begins to form on your teeth and begins to irritate the gums if not removed. Periodontitis, a condition that develops when plaque pockets form between your teeth, only makes your breath worse. If you wear dentures, it's important to clean them regularly to prevent odors.

Diseases and Conditions

Persistent nasal discharge in the throat, often found in people with sinus infections, can cause halitosis. Upper respiratory infections, lung abscesses and infections, reflux, throat infections and bronchitis are other possible sources of odor. Kidney and liver failure produce distinct odors in the breath, and uncontrolled diabetes causes a fruity odor.

Preventing Bad Breath

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth and tongue twice per day with a fluoride toothpaste to avoid bad breath. Flossing each day helps remove food particles that get stuck between teeth and contribute to bad breath. If periodontal disease is the cause of your halitosis, your dentist can refer you to a periodontist, a dental specialist who can clean the deep plaque pockets in your gums. More than just a cause of bad breath, untreated periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss. If plaque buildup is a problem for you, your dentist may recommend that you begin using an antimicrobial mouthwash that helps prevent the formation of plaque.

Resources

• Family Doctor information on halitosis