What Is Bad Breath?

There are over 90 million people who suffer from simple bad breath or from more severe halitosis.  For most people the cause of their bad breath will emanate from their teeth, gums, and tongue.  The bad odor will come from bacteria in the mouth that is the result of food particles left in the mouth after eating.  Poor dental habits can also be a major contributing cause of bad breath.  Decay in the mouth will produce a sulphur compound which leaves behind a bad smell. 

If you have bad breath you’ll want to take a look at your oral hygiene habits.  When you brush your teeth make sure that you also brush your tongue, the inside of your cheeks, and the roof of your mouth.  You want to be sure to remove all the food particles and bacteria from your mouth.  You’ll also want to make sure that you floss your teeth to remove any food particles that are trapped between your teeth.  Use a mouthwash as a temporary solution to your bad breath, however if the problem is still there make sure that you talk to your dentist to see if you have gum disease or tooth decay.

Bad breath can also occur for other reasons that include a dry mouth, diabetes, infection, liver problems, or kidney failure.  Smoking is another contributing factor.  Many cancer patients will find that they have a dry mouth after they have undergone radiation therapy.  Lack of saliva in the mouth can lead to bad breath since food particles won’t be washed away.  Other reasons why you may experience bad breath include stress, dieting, your age, hormonal problems, and snoring. 

If you have an odor that emanates from the back of your mouth you may have post-nasal drip.  Post-nasal drip occurs when the mucus that is secreted from your nose moves into your throat.  The mucus then gets stuck on your tongue and this can produce a foul smell. 

The number one thing that you need to keep mouth odors under control is an ample amount of saliva.  Saliva is needed to wash away the bacteria and food particles that become stuck in your mouth.  As you sleep the amount of saliva that is produced will lessen.  This is why most people wake up with some level of morning breath.  To get rid of morning breath you simply need to brush and floss your teeth so that the odor is washed away.  Eating a morning meal is another way to get rid of morning breath since this will get the saliva flowing once again.