6 Causes of Bad Breath or Halitosis in 2021

Have you ever been in an awkward situation where you feel your breath stinks? Don’t worry, Studies have shown that about 50% of total adult population at some point in their lives have had bad breath or halitosis. It can be embarrassing as only very close family and friends can tell truthfully if a person has.

6 Causes of Bad Breath or Halitosis.
There are several causes of halitosis, in this article, we will focus on six main causes of halitosis.

1. Bacteria
   Bad breath can happen anytime, and thanks to the hundreds of different types of bad breath-causing bacteria that naturally live in your mouth. When you eat, bacteria feed on the food left in your mouth and leaves a foul-smelling waste product behind. Improper brushing especially of the tongue also harbours bacteria.
2. Smoking and Tobacco
   Smoking stains your teeth, gives you bad breath and puts you at risk for a host of health problems. Tobacco reduces your ability to taste foods and irritates gum tissues. Tobacco users are more likely to suffer from gum disease. Since smoking also affects your sense of smell, smokers may not be aware of how their breath smell.
3. Food
   Food like garlic, onions, coffee, etc, may cause bad breath. The truth is, the list of breath-offending foods is endless, hence, what you eat may affect the air you exhale.
4. Gum Disease
   Halitosis that just won’t go away or a constant bad taste in your mouth can be a warning sign of advanced gum disease, which is caused by a sticky, cavity-causing bacteria called plaque.
5. Dry Mouth
   One of the causes of halitosis is a dry mouth. Your mouth might not be making enough saliva, hence, resulting to bad breath. Saliva is super important because it works around the clock to wash out your mouth. If you don’t have enough, your mouth isn’t being cleansed as much as it should be. Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems or by simply breathing through your mouth.
6. Medical Conditions
   Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, the dentist will refer you to a physician or a specialist.