You can’t run. You can’t hide. Unmanageable bad breath can be embarrassing, but few understand it could be due to a host of underlying health issues. Keep reading to identify what could be causing it.

1. Poor Oral Hygiene

Though this may seem obvious, unmanaged oral health can lead to an overaccumulation of harmful bacteria and food particles on your teeth and gums, leading to bad breath. Also, your tongue can harbor odor-causing bacteria. 

If you are a denture wearer and do not regularly clean your dentures, or if they do not fit correctly, bacteria and food particles can remain trapped in the mouth.

2. Dry Mouth

Although weird to some, your spit (saliva) plays a vital role in managing your health. Saliva is responsible for creating a moist barrier for the mouth to help a person:

• Chew and swallow food
• Neutralize harmful acids
• Protects the surface of the teeth
• Speeding up wound healing
• Kill germs to defend the body against tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath

On the other hand, xerostomia (dry mouth) happens when a person cannot produce enough saliva. Generally, chronic dry mouth can be caused by:

• Problems with the salivary glands
• Certain diseases (such as cancers, metabolic disorders, and GERD)
• A side effect of certain medications (for example, antihistamines and decongestants)

3. Dehydration

Are you drinking enough water? Although lay press reports 75% of Americans as chronically dehydrated, dehydration is common among elderly adults. In this country, 17% to 28% of our older adult population is vulnerable to not obtaining enough fluids.

When your body lacks fluid, the body cannot produce enough saliva. Without saliva, bacteria cannot be washed away and has the opportunity to flourish, causing stinky breath. So, if you sweat a lot, avoid actively drinking water, or are sick, make sure to replenish the body with a few glasses of H2O.

4. Oral Infections

When people have an infection, their immune system kicks into overdrive, and their bodies tend to secrete different scents. Typically, wound odor (malodor) is caused by bacterial colonization or necrotic tissue in the wound bed. Bad breath can be attributed to: 

• Surgical wounds after oral surgery (for example, pulling a tooth)
• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Ulcers (oral sores)

5. Tobacco Use

“Smoker’s breath” is a common term used to describe the stale stench that is created by a combination of factors:

• Cigarette smoke lingers in the throat and lungs.
• Also, nicotine found in tobacco products restricts the body’s ability to produce saliva (also known as xerostomia).
• Smoking leaves chemical compounds in the mouth that mixes with saliva and cause bad breath.

Additionally, people who use tobacco products are more at risk for developing gum disease. Evidence suggests that more than half of chronic periodontitis cases in the United States are attributable to smoking cigarettes. So, if you are a smoker, we recommend kicking the habit to avoid oral health problems.

Our Atlanta Dentist Tackles Bad Breath at the Source

When other methods fail, Dr. Abbey J. Lee of Smiles for Grant Park finds out what provokes bad breath and treats accordingly. If you have questions about what could be causing your bad breath or simply need relief, book an oral exam with Dr. Lee. Call 404-328-7117 or message us online today.