What is Bad Breath? Understanding Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

Research in the International Journal of Oral Science established that approximately one in four people is affected by bad breath, also known as halitosis. While it's common to experience bad breath after a meal or upon waking up, persistent bad breath smells can indicate a more serious underlying issue.

Understanding the causes and treatment will help you maintain fresh breath and good oral health. In this guide, we’ll discuss the causes of bad breath, explore what halitosis is, and offer some practical tips for preventing and treating the condition.

Key Takeaways

Bad breath is often caused by odor-causing bacteria in the mouth, which break down food particles and produce unpleasant odors.
Causes of bad breath range from poor oral hygiene and dry mouth to health conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and periodontal disease.
Halitosis is a persistent and usually chronic form of bad breath that typically requires professional treatment.
Good oral hygiene, hydration, and regular dentist visits can help prevent and manage bad breath.
Chronic halitosis that persists despite good care may point to an underlying medical emergency that needs attention.

What is Bad Breath?

Bad breath refers to a condition where foul odor emanates from the mouth. Though it can be temporary due to certain types of foods or dry mouth, chronic bad breath is a more serious problem that persists even after brushing and flossing.

The primary cause of bad breath is odor-causing bacteria that break down food particles, saliva, and dead cells in the mouth. This action results in the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which emit an unpleasant smell. In most instances, bacteria feed on food particles on the tongue, teeth, and gums, causing bad breath.

What is Halitosis?

Oral halitosis refers to persistent bad breath that doesn’t disappear even after proper oral hygiene. Unlike temporary bad breath, halitosis is often caused by underlying medical conditions such as gum disease, GERD, or systemic health issues like diabetes or kidney disease.

Halitosis is often caused by harmful bacteria in the mouth or gum disease, which produce sulfur compounds. These bacteria thrive in areas where food particles remain, such as between the teeth, on the tongue, or in the gums, causing halitosis. Bad breath, in some cases, is also linked to tonsil stones, which can harbor bacteria and cause foul odors.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Several factors, ranging from poor dental hygiene to more complex health conditions, contribute to bad breath. In this regard, Muoka’s article titled “The Science of Bad Breath” found the following as the most common causes of bad breath:

1. Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene is the most common cause of foul breath. When you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly, food particles and bacteria accumulate in the mouth, causing bad breath. These bacteria emit sulfur compounds, which give off a foul odor. The sticky coating of bacteria and food particles on your teeth leads to plaque buildup, which further causes tooth decay and gum disease. If left unaddressed, poor oral hygiene can lead to chronic bad breath and serious dental problems, like tooth abscesses.

2. Dietary Factors

Certain foods contribute to bad breath. Eating foods like garlic, onions, and coffee can cause breath smells that linger in the entire mouth long after eating. These foods contain sulfur compounds that are absorbed into the bloodstream, reaching your lungs and being exhaled as foul breath. While the effects are usually temporary, overconsumption can lead to persistent bad breath, especially if combined with poor oral hygiene.

3. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

Dry mouth is often a sign that the body isn't producing enough saliva, leading to a dry mouth issue. Saliva helps clean the mouth by neutralizing acids and washing away food particles and bacteria. When saliva production decreases, bacteria thrive, contributing to halitosis or bad breath. It can happen due to medications, dehydration, smoking, or underlying conditions like GERD.

4. Health Conditions

Sometimes, bad breath is a sign of more serious health issues. Diseases affecting the gums, such as periodontal disease, are the most common cause of persistent bad breath. As the gums become infected, harmful toxins in the body can lead to bad breath. According to Karkos & Thomas (2024) in Medscape, other health conditions that can contribute to bad breath include:

GERD: Acid reflux allows gastric acids to go up into the mouth, which causes a sour or bitter smell.
Respiratory Infections: Conditions like sinus infections, bronchitis, or pneumonia lead to postnasal drip, which causes bad breath due to mucus buildup.
Diabetes: Poorly controlled diabetes can cause fruity breath due to the production of ketones, a byproduct of fat metabolism. As your body breaks down fat, it releases chemicals that can give off an unpleasant breath odor.
Kidney Disease: Substances not filtered by the kidneys can be responsible for a specific mouth odor (uremic fetor).

Besides these, other lifestyle habits, including smoking and excessive alcohol intake, may heighten unpleasant breath odor and lead to dry mouth. You can address these underlying issues to have your halitosis treated.

Prevention and Treatment Tips

1. Good Oral Hygiene

A proper oral hygiene routine is your first line of defense against bad breath. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, and using an antiseptic mouthwash can help remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque. You can also use a tongue scraper to clean the surface of your tongue, where many bacteria reside, then follow up with thorough mouth rinses.

If you want to upgrade your oral care routine, consider using Cheeky's products. For instance, the Cheeky Electric Toothbrush and Water Flosser dislodges debris in hard-to-reach areas to treat halitosis. For cleaner teeth, fresher breath, and a brighter smile, use our LED Whitening Kit, which targets deep stains from coffee, wine, and smoking.

2. Hydrate

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps keep your mouth moist and encourages saliva production, which is crucial for neutralizing acids and removing food debris. If you suffer from dry mouth, consider using artificial saliva or chewing sugar-free candies to keep your mouth hydrated.

3. Eat Healthy Foods

Eating healthy foods can help prevent bad breath. Foods like apples, carrots, and green tea promote saliva production and neutralize odors. Avoiding certain foods, such as garlic, onions, and coffee, can also reduce breath odor caused by food.

4. Quit Smoking

Smoking is a major contributor to bad breath due to the presence of harmful chemicals and toxins that dry out the mouth and leave behind a foul odor. Tobacco users often experience a coated tongue, which harbors bacteria that feed on food particles, exacerbating bad breath. Quitting smoking helps reduce the number of bad breath-causing bacteria, boosts saliva production, and improves overall oral hygiene.

5. Regular Dental Checkups

You need regular dental check-ups for good oral health. Your dentist can identify if you have gum disease, a cavity, or other oral health issues like teeth grinding, which cause gum injuries and infections. This way, early interventions, such as a custom mouth guard, may prevent chronic bad breath and enable you to address the underlying issue or cause.

Cheeky’s Telehealth Dental Impression Checkup allows you to receive a comprehensive review of your oral health from the comfort of your home. A licensed U.S. dentist will assess your impressions and provide personalized recommendations to improve your oral hygiene.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If you’ve tried good oral hygiene and your bad breath persists, consult your healthcare provider. Chronic halitosis could indicate an underlying health condition such as GERD, diabetes, or kidney disease that needs medical attention. A healthcare professional can help pinpoint the cause and suggest treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know If I Have Chronic Bad Breath?

If you notice your breath smelling like rotten eggs or something fruity, you may have halitosis. You can also check by licking the back of your hand, letting it dry, and then smelling it. If it smells bad, you probably have bad breath. If this persists, consult your primary care physician or dentist for further advice and to rule out underlying causes, such as bacterial infections or oral health issues, like dental caries.

What Causes Bad Breath in Children?

The causes of bad breath range from poor oral hygiene and dry mouth conditions to bacterial infections such as tonsillitis. Other causes of temporary bad breath include certain foods, like garlic or onions. Persistent bad breath may be a sign of a more serious issue, such as a foreign body in the nose or perhaps an underlying health condition. Regular dental exams will catch the cause of halitosis early on.

How Can I Determine If Stomach Issues Cause Halitosis?

If your bad breath has a fruity odor or smells sour, it may be related to stomach issues such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. A visit to your primary care doctor can help determine if digestive issues are the cause. They may suggest treatments to manage acid reflux, which can significantly reduce bad breath.

Can I Chew Cloves for Bad Breath?

Chewing cloves can temporarily freshen your breath due to their natural antibacterial properties. However, it's not a long-term solution for halitosis. Focus on keeping your mouth clean by using an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash and drinking plenty of water to keep saliva flowing.

How Do You Remove Bad Breath in 2 Minutes?

Rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash, chew sugar-free gum to boost saliva production, and drink water to help remove food particles and keep your mouth moist. These steps can help kill bacteria and provide a temporary solution, but for long-term relief, maintain a solid oral hygiene routine and visit your dentist regularly.

Conclusion

Understanding what causes bad breath and how to manage it goes hand in hand with having a healthy mouth and fresh, clean breath. Taking action to improve your oral care routine and lifestyle habits can help address issues like poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, or underlying medical conditions.

If bad breath persists, seek professional advice to ensure you address any potential health concerns. Keep your mouth fresh and clean with Cheeky’s range of oral care products, and don't hesitate to consult a dentist regularly to stay on top of your oral health.