In order to identify the cause of your bad breath, you’ll need to consider whether there are any dietary factors as well as others like a medical condition that might be affecting your oral health. We’ll explore some possible causes of common bad breath and regular halitosis below.
General Oral Health
One of the leading causes of bad breath is a buildup of plaque on your teeth. Scaling and removing plaque can be a laborious process, but it’s crucial to maintain good oral care and prevent other oral health problems which may lead to bad breath. Keeping up a daily oral care routine will keep your breath fresh and healthy.
Eating Flavorful Food & Drink
Foods that are high in fat and sugar can have an unfavorable odor when encountered. These food particles enter the bloodstream and carry them to the lungs. The organs of smell absorb this odor and the person gets a lingering scent when he or she exhales.
Coffee
Coffee leaves you feeling like you have bad breath because of its intense flavor, along with the decrease in saliva production when drinking coffee. After drinking coffee, this produces an increased risk of bad breath due to a gradual decline in saliva.
Alcohol
The more frequently that you drink alcohol – the greater your chances are of experiencing bad breath. Alcohol consumption leads to a decrease in saliva production, which is an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.
High-sugar Diets
In addition to off-the-wall and spicy food, a diet high in sugar and protein can lead to bad breath. Sugar consumption leads to bad breath in some cases due to the way sugars interact with the existing bacteria in your mouth. Your naturally occurring bacteria feed on sugar turning sweet treats into sour smells.
High-Protein or Low-Carb Diets
Carbohydrates serve crucial functions in our bodies; they are used as energy. When we don’t eat enough carbs, this can lead to bad breath. Bad breath could be a result of changes in the metabolism, which can lead to changes in the body’s overall function/functionality.
Eating too many high-protein foods can often release sulfurous gases that your body has a hard time metabolizing. It’s important to eat more vegetables and herbs as part of a more balanced diet in order to avoid digestive issues.
Smoking
Cigarette and tobacco products such as cigarettes and chewing leave behind bad breath and lead to more serious oral health conditions. Aside from the smell of an ashtray, it damages the gums and causes gum disease.
Digestive Issues
Acid reflux and gastrointestinal disorders of any kind may cause bad breath, especially when food remnants are ingested out of the mouth. Such inhalant bacteria then play a role in your breath, which is particularly frustrating when dealing with this issue.
Dry Mouth
Saliva cleans your mouth and removes food particles that lead to bad breath. If saliva production is low or if there is no saliva then the condition known as dry mouth is likely to occur. Dry mouth occurs naturally, so people wake up in the morning with bad breath because their body is producing enough saliva for the night hours. But if it persists throughout the day, treatment may be worth considering.
Prescription Medication
Side effects of many prescription medications include dry mouth, which has been linked to the growth of bacteria in the mouth that release bad odors. A prolonged dry mouth can also cause discomfort and lead to bad breath. Some medications released by the body’s breakdown of a drug when broken down slow the production of saliva due to chemical reactions with the saliva cells and could affect smell.
Other Causes
Bad breath can be a sign of other health problems. Some conditions that may lead to bad breath include bacteria in the mouth, postnasal drip, sinus and tonsil infections, respiratory infections, diabetes, liver and kidney issues, certain blood disorders as well as cancer or metabolic disorders.
