While occasional bad breath is common, particularly after consuming strong foods like garlic and onions, chronic bad breath that tastes sour, rotten, or sulphurous may indicate a more serious problem. Your teeth, gums, or stomach may be the source of your bad breath if chewing a piece of gum doesn’t solve the issue.
“Halitosis, or bad breath, is the state in which your breath is offensive to others or to yourself,” explains Matthew Reck, DDS, the owner of Chikaming Dental Centre in Sawyer, Michigan and a board-certified dentist.
As the name implies, bad breath produces an unpleasant taste and/or odour in your mouth, according to board-certified family physician Laura Purdy, MD. According to her, there are both short-term and long-term conditions that can cause bad breath, but finding the source can help resolve the problem permanently.
Wondering what you might be facing? Here are seven reasons why you have foul breath and how to get rid of it.
Reasons for Bad Breath
Since there are several simple fixes for bad breath, including what you eat and how you maintain your dental hygiene, it’s not usually a serious cause for alarm. Other times, more serious conditions like gum disease or lung infections could be the source of your foul breath. Experts discuss common causes of bad breath and how to recognise the symptoms below.
Inadequate Dental Care
According to Dr. Reck, one of the main causes of foul breath is poor oral hygiene. “If you don’t remove the food and plaque (sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth) from your mouth, it will produce bacterial growth and odour,” he says. He continues, “Unclean dental appliances, such as bite splints, dentures, and retainers, may also be the cause since they readily harbour bacteria, fungus, and yeast.”
Food naturally becomes lodged in your teeth, so it’s critical to get rid of remaining food particles before they cause decay, advises Dr. Purdy. The answer? According to Dr. Reck, you may reduce the growth of dangerous bacteria in your mouth by brushing, flossing, and scheduling regular dental cleanings. He continues, “You can also keep your breath fresh by scraping your tongue and using an antiseptic mouthwash to reduce the buildup of bacteria in the mouth.”
Dry Mouth
According to Dr. Reck, dry mouth, often referred to as xerostomia, is a condition in which the production of saliva is reduced. It is frequently brought on by certain medications, alcohol, tobacco, stress, and medications that cause smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. “Saliva helps wash your mouth from odor-causing bacteria, and when there’s a decrease in saliva production, the mouth can’t cleanse itself,” he says.
In addition to drinking lots of water, eating sugar-free gum can also boost salivary flow, according to Dr. Reck. He continues, “To relieve symptoms, you can also discuss artificial saliva substitutes like Biotene with your doctor.”
Gum Disease
According to Dr. Reck, gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an inflammation of the tissues that keep your teeth in place and is usually brought on by plaque accumulation from improper brushing and flossing practices. Dr. Purdy continues, “These tiny spaces between the teeth trap food, plaque, and bacteria and result in red, swollen, bleeding gums and chronic bad breath.”
According to Dr. Reck, you should floss, scrape your tongue, brush your teeth twice a day, and get professional dental cleanings done at least twice a year to prevent gum disease. He notes that antiseptic mouthwashes that contain other antibacterial agents, such as chlorhexidine, can help kill bacteria and freshen your breath. He goes on to say that smoking can also promote or exacerbate gum disease, therefore you should give it up or avoid it.
Dental decay
According to Dr. Reck, tooth decay is brought on by plaque accumulation and bacteria that eats away at food particles in your mouth and releases an odour similar to sulphur. It’s crucial to thoroughly brush your teeth twice a day and schedule twice-yearly dental cleanings since the tiny cracks in your teeth serve as ideal harbours for food particles and plaque. See your dentist right away if you think you may have a cavity, often known as tooth rot.
Respiratory Infections
According to Dr. Reck, postnasal drip, sinus infections, and respiratory infections can all cause bad breath. “When you have a cold or postnasal drip, you get what we refer to as phlegm or mucus, and the bacteria in your mouth and on your tongue feeds off of it and multiplies, causing a foul smell,” he says. Maintaining good dental hygiene can reduce the amount of space that germs can grow, but if your symptoms get worse or don’t go away, see your doctor.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Bad breath can be caused by digestive problems like reflux or heartburn, especially after eating, according to Dr. Reck. He clarifies that acid reflux, which is very strong and can result in a sour smell, is the backward flow of undigested food and stomach acids into your oesophagus. Foods high in fibre can aid in better digestion, but he advises consulting a doctor about any underlying medical conditions.
Food
According to Dr. Purdy, foods high in garlic, onion, spices, and coffee are known to induce foul breath. If these food particles stay in and around your teeth, the problem may get worse. Dr. Reck continues, “Toss in a piece of sugar-free gum, rinse your mouth with water after you eat, or brush your teeth after meals to squash the stench.”
When to Consult a Physician for Poor Breath
“Fortunately, the most common causes of bad breath are the easiest to address,” according to Dr. Reck. “Increase your daily oral health regime, so if you’re brushing twice a day, make it three or four times a day, floss twice a day instead of once, and add a mouthwash that’s antibacterial to help reduce or eliminate the odour,” he says.
Dr. Reck advises making an appointment with your dentist if, after one to two weeks, there is still no discernible improvement in your foul breath. After that, they will look for diseases and infections of the mouth to ascertain the cause.
Treatment for foul breath is situation-specific, according to Dr. Reck. “If it’s due to poor oral hygiene, get a professional dental cleaning and increase at-home care,” he says. “If it’s due to gastrointestinal issues or respiratory infections, see your primary care physician for over-the-counter suggestions or prescription options.”