Bad breath is breath that has an unpleasant odour. Its also known as
halitosis. This odour can strike from time to time, or it can be
long-lasting, depending on the cause.
Millions of bacteria live in the mouth, particularly on the back of the tongue. In many people, they are the primary causes of bad breath. The mouths warm, moist conditions are ideal for the growth of these bacteria. Most bad breath is caused by something in the mouth.
Some types of bad breath are considered to be fairly normal. They usually are not health concerns. One example is morning mouth. This occurs because of changes in your mouth while you sleep. During the day, saliva washes away decaying food and odours. The body makes less saliva at night. Your mouth becomes dry, and dead cells stick to your tongue and to the inside of your cheeks. When bacteria use these cells for food, they produce a foul odour.
In addition, bad breath can be caused by the following:
Poor dental hygiene — Infrequent or improper brushing and flossing, which allows bits of food to decay inside the mouth
Infections in the mouth — Periodontal (gum) disease
Respiratory tract infections — Throat, sinus or lung infections
External agents — Garlic, onions, coffee, cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco
Dry mouth (xerostomia) — Caused by salivary gland problems, medicines or mouth breathing
Systemic (bodywide) illnesses — Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others
Psychiatric illness — Some people may believe they have bad breath, but others do not notice it. This is referred to as pseudohalitosis.
Millions of bacteria live in the mouth, particularly on the back of the tongue. In many people, they are the primary causes of bad breath. The mouths warm, moist conditions are ideal for the growth of these bacteria. Most bad breath is caused by something in the mouth.
Some types of bad breath are considered to be fairly normal. They usually are not health concerns. One example is morning mouth. This occurs because of changes in your mouth while you sleep. During the day, saliva washes away decaying food and odours. The body makes less saliva at night. Your mouth becomes dry, and dead cells stick to your tongue and to the inside of your cheeks. When bacteria use these cells for food, they produce a foul odour.
CAUSES OF BAD BREATH
In addition, bad breath can be caused by the following:
Poor dental hygiene — Infrequent or improper brushing and flossing, which allows bits of food to decay inside the mouth
Infections in the mouth — Periodontal (gum) disease
Respiratory tract infections — Throat, sinus or lung infections
External agents — Garlic, onions, coffee, cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco
Dry mouth (xerostomia) — Caused by salivary gland problems, medicines or mouth breathing
Systemic (bodywide) illnesses — Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others
Psychiatric illness — Some people may believe they have bad breath, but others do not notice it. This is referred to as pseudohalitosis.
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