Things that can Cause Bad Breath

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

Many people have issues with bad breath but at times, bad breath is not caused by a major health issue but the consequence of some habits that people ignorantly engage in without care.

There are many routine habits that cause issues of bad breathe and usually such issues are easily resolved with change in routine habits.

Dirty tongue: Bacteria on the tongue is a leading cause of bad breath; clean your tongue regularly with your toothbrush or preferably a tongue scraper.

Low-carb diet: Lack of adequate carbohydrates and protein you eat can cause breathing issue. Lack of carbohydrates makes the body start burning fat for energy; this process makes compounds called ketones, which cause bad breath. In this case, better dental hygiene won’t solve the problem, since that’s not the root cause. Your best bet is to mask your breath with sugar-free gum.

Common cold: Respiratory tract infections like colds and bronchitis can also give you bad breath because odor-causing bacteria like to feed on mucus; if you have a stuffy nose, you’re more likely to resort to mouth-breathing, which can dry out your mouth.

Night outs: A night out or beer binge could give you more than a hangover. Even though it’s a liquid, alcohol can actually dry out your mouth which encourages the bacteria that cause halitosis, the medical term for bad breath. Drinks with caffeine, spicy foods, and cigarettes can, too. A dry mouth from not making as much saliva while you sleep also explains what is called morning breath.

Ulcer: A type of bacteria that causes ulcers, helicobacter pylori, can trigger bad breath and treating the bacteria may get rid of the stink.

Medications: More than 400 prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including antidepressants and allergy remedies, can stifle saliva flow. This fluid helps wash away food and bacteria to keep bad breath at bay so stay hydrated and chew sugarless gum to keep your mouth moist.

Tonsil stones: The small whitish clusters made up of hardened bacteria, food particles, dead cells, and mucus that get trapped in the ridges of your tonsils and the back of the tongue are generally harmless except for the smell. They’ll often dislodge on their own, but you can sometimes speed the process by gargling with salt water.

Dried fruits are very high in sugar and odor-causing bacteria love to feed on the stuff when it gets trapped on and between your teeth. It is important to floss and brush after a snack.

Acid reflux or heartburn: Common digestive disorder may cause bad breath. Bad breath may be from some undigested food coming back up; it could be that irritation from stomach acid is giving you postnasal drip.

Cracked teeth and fillings can trap food particles and breed bacteria, resulting in cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Ill-fitting dentures can cause the same problems.