KissMeGoodnight eLearning Series: Bad Breath
My Breath Stinks!
How to Get Rid of Bad Breath...NOW
( 15 pages )

What Causes Bad Breath?

Before we begin to explore the remedies for getting rid of bad breath, we need to have a thorough understanding of the causes and symptoms. Some of the causes (but not all) that can replace normal breath are:

Abscessed tooth

Infection of the tissue surrounding a tooth that usually fills with pus which has a very smelly odor.

Alcoholism

Immoderate use of alcohol causes decreased production of saliva causing dryness of the mouth. Dry mouth is a leading cause of bad breath.

Atrophic rhinitis

This is an inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane usually a result of nasal drip due to colds or sinusitis.

Cancers

Cancers such as esophageal, pharyngeal, oral tumors, leukemia, pulmonary and stomach cancer all present severe bad breath due to the decay that is taking place. Additionally, the medical treatments for these cancers can exacerbate bad breath.

Oral Candida

This is a fungal infection of the mouth cavity. Also known as thrush, it is fairly common among infants, diabetics, chemotherapy patients and people with HIV or AIDS.

Cavities

These holes in the outer two layers of a tooth contain decay which in turn produces bad breath.

Dentures

Dentures are prosthetic replacements for natural teeth and are just as susceptible to the build up of plaque which causes bad breath. Denture wearers also have a tendency toward dry mouth which also increases the risk of bad breath.

Diabetes

People who have diabetes may also have bad breath. This occurs because of poor control of blood sugar, the problem with most diabetics. Gum disease is a problem for diabetics. And, diabetes is a problem for people with gum disease.

It can be difficult to determine which comes first, the diabetes or the gum disease, but the underlying problem is clear. High blood sugar contributes to gum disease. Diabetics have trouble controlling the high blood sugar. Gum disease is a leading cause of bad breath, hence the correlation.

The American Dental Association reports that people with type 1 diabetes 5 are at greater risk for gingivitis.

Drugs

Certain drugs such as antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure meds, steroids, cancer therapy drugs, diuretics and oral contraceptives are all known to increase the propensity for bad breath as well as an increased risk for gum disease.

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