20. Authoritative Answers for the Common Question: What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath of halitosis is almost inevitable to a degree. Not everyone is aware that they suffer from the problem, but it would be extremely rare if not impossible to escape for all time without ever having an episode of this embarrassing problem. More than the problem itself is the worry that you may have this issue, without friends and acquaintances to tell you about it. Therefore, it is common to wonder what causes bad breath, even if no one has mentioned the subject of late. It is comparatively easy to keep the matter under control with a basic understanding of what causes bad breath.

Onions and garlic are the most common examples of foods with such strong odors that they remain on one’s breath for a long time. Brushing teeth and using mouth fresheners may offer no more than temporary relief, because traces find their way in to exhaled breath from blood, after the ingredients have been digested. However, these kinds of aromatic foods have become so notorious that many people now avoid them as much as possible. They may still ask what causes bad breath since there are other causes for halitosis apart from smelly foods. Left over food particles are common reasons, as they rot in the mouth after getting stuck between teeth. The mouth could also harbor some types of bacteria which cause bad breath. Finally, certain medical conditions such as ketosis may be responsible for a foul smell on one’s breath.

Simple Solutions to the Question: What Causes Bad Breath?

Since there is no single reason for halitosis, it is best to consult a doctor to uncover the primary reason in each separate case. A regular dental check-up should uncover whether any aspect of oral health is responsible for lingering foul odors, while blood tests can establish systemic answers to the vexed question of what causes bad breath. Halitosis could be a result of a potentially serious condition, so medical evaluation of the problem is always a good idea. However, you need not wait until you get a dental or a doctor’s appointment, to take action on learning that there is a bad smell in your mouth, for there are effective steps that you can safely take on your own.

Good habits should be adequate to treat halitosis if one is in a normal state of health. Tobacco smells at least as much as food with pungent aromas, so staying away from all these influences pays off handsomely in terms of clean and fresh breath. Regular brushing and flossing may sound like advice for children, but it is surprising how many adults need regular reminders!

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9. Causes of Halitosis

Bad Personal Habits as Causes of Halitosis

It should be simple to keep bad breath at bay. While it is common knowledge that mouth fresheners act instantaneously, simple acts of personal hygiene can produce more lasting results. Most causes of halitosis are due to nothing more than carelessness or inconvenience. It is not always possible to brush teeth after a meal away from home, and bad breath is inevitable if you have enjoyed an exotic dish full of aromatic spices. Similarly, flossing can be most inconvenient, though traces of food stuck inside the mouth, will lose no time in raising a stink!

Not all causes of halitosis are beyond reasonable control. Some people may develop bad habits of failing to brush and floss before retiring for the night, or may simply not drink enough water. Irregular visits to dentists will inevitably lead to bacterial colonies finding refuge in the gums, and they can be awfully difficult to dislodge completely. There are some beneficial bacteria which reside in a healthy oral cavity, but the trick is to keep the harmful ones away. Overall, a combination of adequate personal hygiene and regular dental examinations should suffice to rule out the usual causes of halitosis.

Metabolic Causes of Halitosis

Diabetes can be free of symptoms in its early stages. Surveys show that large numbers of people in all countries may suffer from diabetes for years, without the condition being detected. This results in the build up of ketones in blood. Ketones are highly odorous chemicals which are formed when the body burns fat instead of carbohydrate for energy. Ketones are eliminated from blood through perspiration, in urine, and by way of exhaled breath. The latter joins the list of causes of halitosis, and it is a matter which a dentist cannot resolve on his or her own. This is why a dentist may send a patient to a physician, when there is nothing in the mouth which could result in halitosis. However, it is also possible that bacterial infections and diabetes are related, since high blood sugar predisposes people to immune deficiencies.

Sudden changes in diet can also cause bad breath. Fasting causes ketosis, as does a high protein diet, which also excludes carbohydrates. The bodies of people who try to lose weight rapidly, or to increase their musculatures, tend to use fat for energy, and smelly ketones build up in blood, finding their way to the lungs in the process. This is why special diets should be custom prepared for each individual by qualified experts.

6. Bad Breath Treatment

Leave Bad Breath Treatment to Your Dentist

Mouth fresheners make a great deal of sense. There could something especially aromatic in food that you eat away from home, or perhaps you are partial to garlic and onions. It is rare to have friends and family muster the courage to tell you that you may have halitosis, though this will not be the case with even the friendliest dentist. Mouth fresheners that you can buy without prescriptions do not constitute bad breath treatment in any case. Temporary relief is simply not good enough if the problem recurs often, or if it seems unrelated to food habits.

A dentist will need to make a thorough examination of the insides of your mouth, to determine whether you have halitosis, before deciding on a course of bad breath treatment to deal with the specifics of your case. Sometimes, just drinking water frequently, or chewing gum may suffice to deal with a dry mouth, which concentrates malodorous substances in exhaled breath. Children may often be guilty of improper brushing, though adults can be careless in this respect as well. Removing stale coating from the tongue, and dislodging pieces of food stuck between teeth, are other personal habits which may suffice by way of bad breath treatment. A dentist can also remove accumulated plaque, deal with diseases of the gums, and prescribe antibiotics, as forms of bad breath treatment.

Bad Breath Treatment beyond Your Mouth

Dentists cannot manage all cases of halitosis on their own. Gum diseases can be quite deep seated, and may need reference to a specialist in this field. However, not all cases of bad breath originate inside the mouth. A dentist may send a patient with halitosis to a physician to deal with a systemic cause. Ketones are smelly chemicals, which are excreted through urine, perspiration, and through exhaled breath as well. Ketones build up in blood to levels which result in halitosis if a person has diabetes, has been starving, or has inadequate carbohydrate intake. Ketosis can be life threatening, so halitosis may be an indication of a serious medical condition. That is why every case of persistent bad breath deserves professional attention.

Fortunately, bad breath treatment is relatively simple once the underlying cause has been determined. However, it can recur if a patient does not follow prescriptions, or change personal habits which lead to the problem. Bad breath may develop at any time, so being free of it at one point of time does not rule out the possibility of developing it later. It is best to ask an intimate friend or a member of the family to check periodically, and to keep every appointment with a dentist.