Bad Breath- What May be Causing It?

Putrid! Awful smell, Hell rising from your mouth. It must be halitosis, or simply bad breath.

Many people are put off by halitosis. If you're lucky the person you are talking to may not say anything but at any rate, halitosis is embarrassing. But what may be causing it?

Poor dental hygiene

Among the most common causes of bad breathe, poor dental hygiene takes the primary position. Failure to cleanse and remove food debris from the mouth could instantly cause bad breath. Ingredients from tooth paste and mouthwashes are specifically manufactured to improve breath and to cover any traces of unwanted smell. 

Hunger

One of the most common causes of bad breath is hunger. For most people, hunger only leads to grumbling sounds from the stomach but for some, bad breath is an obvious symptom of bad smelling breath. 

Dry mouth

One of the most mundane reasons why bad breath develops is dry mouth. If the mouth fails to receive substantial moisture for an extended period of time, chances are the mouth will develop a smell. This often happens in the morning right after you wake up but it could also happen when you don't open your mouth for a few hours. Dry mouth or xerostomia is a condition of lowered production of saliva. On the average, your mouth produces 4 to 6 cups of saliva per day. A slightly lower rate could lead to xerostomia. This condition is characterized by excessive dryness of the mouth but under aggravated condition, xerostomia could lead to burning sensation in the mouth. The leading cause of mouth dryness is insufficient supply of water and other fluids in the body and the use of certain medications. Up to date, there are some 400 identified prescription and non-prescription drugs that could cause mouth dryness. 

Xerostomia leads to bad breath because it causes concentration of odor-producing bacteria. Due to insufficient production of saliva, there is lesser fluid to flush and cleanse the bacteria in the mouth. This leads to the accumulation of bacteria in the oral cavity.  A dry mouth readies the condition in the mouth for the Volatile Sulfur Compounds to be sent to the air. 

Something you just ate. Some foods like garlic, cabbage and onion, AND beverages like coffee, alcohol and tea could instantly cause bad breath after consumption. 

Smoking

Smoking residues such as nicotine and tar could add smell to the mouth. These residues would coat the tongue, the teeth and even the lungs which can further inhibit the circulation of good smelling breath. 

Systematic diseases

Several diseases could cause and contribute to bad breath. Such conditions include liver failure, renal failure and infections, infections in the lower respiratory tract, metabolic dysfunctions, carcinoma, and diabetes milletus. 

Knowing the cause alone may not be helpful though if further actions are not taken. Before you go to the doctor, perform self-examination first. Apart from giving you an idea of how serious your oral problem is, self-diagnosis could also help you start a conscious preventive practice towards better smelling breath.