Bad breath starts in your
mouth, there are many possible causes. They include:
Food - The breakdown of food particles in and around
your teeth can increase bacteria and cause a foul odor. Eating certain foods,
such as onions, garlic, and other vegetables and spices, also can cause bad
breath. After you digest these foods, they enter your bloodstream, are carried
to your lungs and affect your breath.
Tobacco products - Smoking causes its own unpleasant mouth odor. Smokers and oral
tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease, another source of bad
breath.
Poor dental hygiene - If you don't brush and floss daily, food particles remain in your
mouth, causing bad breath. A colorless, sticky film of bacteria (plaque) forms
on your teeth and if not brushed away, plaque can irritate your gums
(gingivitis) and eventually form plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and
gums (periodontitis). The uneven surface of the tongue also can trap bacteria
that produce odors. And dentures that aren't cleaned regularly or don't fit
properly can harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles.
Dry mouth -
Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that may cause bad odors. A
condition called dry mouth — can contribute to bad breath because production of
saliva is decreased. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to
"morning breath," and is made worse if you sleep with your mouth
open. Some medications can lead to a chronic dry mouth, as can a problem with
your salivary glands and some diseases.
Infections in mouth - Bad breath can be caused by surgical wounds after oral surgery, such
as tooth removal, or as a result of tooth decay, gum disease or mouth sores.
Other mouth, nose and throat conditions - Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones
that form in the tonsils and are covered with bacteria that produce odorous
chemicals. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat,
which can contribute to postnasal drip, also can cause bad breath.
Medications
- Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry
mouth. Others can be broken down in the body to release chemicals that can be
carried on your breath.
Other causes -
Chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can be
associated with bad breath.
To know more contact TCC.
TEETH Care Centre Dental Hospital, Ahmedabad
TEETH Care Centre Dental Hospital, Ahmedabad
