What causes bad breath?
Bad breath is primarily caused by poor oral hygiene but can also be caused by retained food particles or gum disease.
More than 80 million people suffer from bad breath or chronic halitosis. In most cases it originates from the gums and tongue. The odor is caused by wastes from bacteria in the mouth, the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth and poor oral hygiene. The decay and debris produce a sulfur compound that causes the unpleasant odor.
Apart from the sulphur-producing bacteria that colonise the back of the tongue, the other major causes of halitosis are:
- Dental factors – such as periodontitis (infection around the teeth) or poor oral hygiene
- Dry mouth – caused by medicines, alcohol, stress or a medical condition
- Smoking – which starves the mouth of oxygen.
Less common causes of halitosis include:
- Acid and bile reflux from the stomach
- Post-nasal discharge – for example, due to chronic sinusitis
- Kidney failure, various carcinomas, metabolic dysfunctions, and biochemical disorders, together account for only a very small percentage of halitosis suffers
- Foods – such as onions, garlic or cauliflower, which induce certain odours. However, these effects are only short-lived.
The first step to dealing with ‘bad breath’ is to organise a comprehensive and thorough clean of your teeth. Hygienists are trained to provide such cleans for around $200.
