Causes of Bad breath

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There are a number of different causes of bad breath, but poor dental hygiene is the most common. Bacteria coating the teeth and tongue occur naturally in the mouth. They attack food particles trapped between the teeth. As the bacteria breakdown food, smelly gasses are released. In people with healthy teeth, the smell is usually confined to the back of the tongue.

Strongly flavoured foods such as garlic, onion and spices produce a smell long before bacterial action sets in. Strong smelling drinks, including alcohol and coffee, can also cause bad breath.

Many people find that their breath smells bad in the morning. This is because the flow of saliva that washes away food particles between the teeth slows down when we are asleep. The food residues stagnate in the mouth, and mouth bacteria rapidly break them down, releasing an unpleasant stale smell.

Bad breath is generally caused by a problem in the mouth, and poor dental hygiene can contribute to conditions such as gum disease and tooth decay. The catarrh produced with throat or tonsil infections can also cause bad breath.

Other causes of bad breath include:

Dry mouth (xerostomia). This is a condition that affects the flow of saliva. Bacteria build up in the mouth, leading to bad breath.
Infections of the throat nose and lungs
Sinusitis
Bronchitis
Diabetes
Liver or kidney problems
Gastritis and food reflux
Smoking
Low carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins diet.