What causes halitosis or bad breath?
While bad breath or halitosis may sometimes be caused by poor oral hygiene, there may also be other underlying causes which contribute to bad breath and are often difficult to treat, despite all efforts to follow a healthy mouth and teeth cleaning routine. This can cause great distress and even result in problems with relationships and difficulties in the workplace. There are a number of causes of bad breath, including: • Poor oral hygiene • Gum disease (e.g. gum boils, abscesses, spongy gums, gingivitis) • Multiplication of odor-causing bacteria in the mouth and digestive tract • Candidiasis • Chronic sinus infection • Certain medications (especially those that cause dry mouth as a side effect) • Smoking • Some foods can cause bad breath (garlic, onions, anchovies, high protein diet) • Poor digestion and sluggish liver • Constipation How do I know if I have bad breath? Sometimes bad breath is noticed by an unpleasant or bitter taste in your mouth. You can also check the smell of your
