Bad breath, otherwise called as halitosis, is a fairly common condition of having unpleasant breath through one’s mouth, which may occur due to poor oral hygiene or dental health habits. Continual bad breath may be due to different causes like foul-smelling gases discharged by the bacteria that coat the teeth and gums, foods stuck between the tongue and teeth, sturdy food items such as coffee, garlic, and onion, chronic smoking, and due to a few other medical problems. A detailed examination of what causes bad breath is essential, in case the condition is chronic, to find the best cure for it.

Apart from a lack of good dental hygiene, some of the other causes of bad breath include:

Use of tobacco and tobacco products:

According to the Mayo Clinic, smoking plays an important role in discharging distasteful mouth smell. Tobacco users and smokers are said to have gum diseases resulting in bad breath. Individuals who pursue this habit must quit smoking in order to get rid of bad breath.

Dehydrated or dry mouth:

Saliva aids in cleaning the mouth and eradicating the particles that cause bad smell. As per American Dental Association, dehydrated mouth, which is also called as xerostomia, leads to bad breath due to reduced saliva production. Usually dry mouth develops at the time of sleep that leads to morning bad breath and gets worse when one sleeps with their mouth open.

Causes due to diseases:

Cancers and metabolic disorders can also be an origin for bad breath due to the formation of substances, which the diseases generate. Stomach acids are somehow connected to the condition. As per the dentists in California Dental Association, sinus infections, lung illnesses, and bronchitis, can sometimes be the cause. Beyond this, diabetes, kidney or liver disorders, and gastrointestinal diseases, may be exposed via mouth odor.

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinic has indicated few other causes that results in bad breath.

• Throat infection
• Nose stuck due to some substance
• High dosage of vitamin supplements
• Periodontal disease
• Kidney failure
• Bowel impediment 
• Teeth cavities

Foods - a source for bad breath:

Aromatic food stuffs like cabbage, onion, garlic, and a few other flavored items, are often the basis of breath odor. Brushing the teeth, flossing or rinsing the mouth will not just remove the odor, but these processes may merely create a masking effect. Bad breath may continue until the food is discharged from the body. At the time of digestion too, the odor may take a reverse route (belching), and get discharged while breathing and speaking.

If you are concerned about your bad breath, then you must consult a doctor and get a dental check-up done. Once the causes are determined, short-term and long-term treatments are available. Many dentists are of the opinion that mouthwashes are not the real remedy as it contains alcohol, which could certainly lead to dryness in the mouth. Additionally, any kind of mouthwash liquids or sprays, usually only have a cosmetic effect and they do not offer a long-lasting solution. Adhering to hygienic practices and regular checkup serves to be the best option to get rid of bad breath.