There are four major causes of halitosis, though upwards of 90 percent of all cases can be explained by the first two.
The first cause is the most common. Every time you eat, small particles of food remain on the surfaces in your mouth. Brushing and flossing your teeth will remove most of the pieces, but there are microscopic bacteria that can survive all of your best efforts and form colonies. Over time the bacteria begin to die off, and as they do they emit a chemical compound made primarily of sulfur that has a pungent and unpleasant odor.
The second cause of halitosis is gum disease, caused by the plaque film that forms on your teeth when you eat. This condition is compounded if you also suffer from dry mouth, which reduces your ability to generate saliva. As a result, your body doesn’t produce enough natural cleaning fluids and bacterial colonies thrive in the mouth.
Third, your bad breath may be caused by your own actions, especially if you are a smoker. Tobacco smoke irritates the soft tissues in your mouth, coating them in a layer of toxic chemicals. This makes the mouths of smokers the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria that cause bad breath.
Finally, halitosis can be the sign of serious medical problems in other parts of your body, many of which cause a distinct odor. Common conditions that reveal themselves in this way include:
- Kidney Failure: As your body struggles to filter your urine, your breath takes on the smell of urine and ammonia
- Liver Failure: A failing liver can be caused by any number of factors, but your body will let you know there’s a problem when your breath becomes sweet and musty
- Rheumatic Fever: This serious medical condition attacks your heart and joints and can make itself known through a sweetly acidic aroma on your breath
- Respiratory Problems: A series of respiratory problems, including pneumonia, TB and lung abscesses, give off a very unpleasant odor, usually smelling of decay
- Diabetes: Unbalanced blood sugar levels cause your breath to take on a sugary, fruity smell
The front line of defense against dental problems is proper tooth care, which should incorporate mouthwashes and flossing in support of a brushing regimen. However, even if you do everything correctly, you may still have a problem with bad breath. If your bad breath persists and causes hardships in your everyday activities, it’s time to reach out to the professionals and get medical treatment.
