Is Bad Breath a Sign of Illness?
Everyone experiences bad breath at some point, usually due to something that was eaten or drunk, but this is usually temporary. Hopefully, once you floss and brush, any bad breath will be gone. But chronic bad breath is a different story. The most common cause of chronic bad breath is bacteria, though there are also some health conditions that can be linked to halitosis.
Is bad breath a sign of illness?
Chronic bad breath can be a symptom of disease or illness. If you experience bad breath that does not go away with brushing and flossing, it is important to speak with your dentist to see if they can determine the cause or help you decide if you need to see your general practitioner.
Bowel disorders, poor digestion, acid reflux, and constipation can all cause bad breath. Patients with sinus or tonsil infections and even certain blood disorders may have bad breath. Halitosis can even be a sign of a metabolic disorder or, in rare instances, of cancer.
What else causes bad breath?
Oral Hygiene
The biggest culprit of chronic bad breath is poor oral hygiene. It is important to brush at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and to floss at least once a day. Incorporating a tongue scraper into your routine can be extremely beneficial as well. Using oral care products that contain antibacterial agents can help keep bacteria build up at bay. Without regular brushing and flossing, bacteria build up in your mouth, turning into sticky plaque and tartar, which can lead to periodontal disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.
Refreshment
Many foods and beverages cause bad breath: garlic, onions, coffee, and alcohol are common. Bad odors from some things we consume can actually stick around for a few days, beyond the immediate bad breath that is associated with such items.
Certain diets can impact your breath as well. High-sugar diets can lead to halitosis because of the interaction between sugar and bacteria that already exist in the mouth; low-carb diets cause metabolic changes in the body when it does not receive enough carbohydrates; high-protein diets can also cause bad breath if you take in more protein than your body can process.
Stress
Many people know and understand that stress and anxiety can often cause a physical reaction within the body, including bad breath. Panicked breathing can dry out your mouth. When you are stressed and you do not want to eat, it changes your digestion by depriving your stomach of the enzymes necessary to digest food. Without them, undigested foods release odors that come up and out of the mouth.
Medication
Some medications have a side effect of dry mouth, causing a decrease in saliva production. Saliva keeps your mouth clean and helps remove food particles, so if there is less saliva, it can be harder to keep the mouth clean naturally. Others simply cause bad breath when the chemicals released when medications break down are carried into your bloodstream.
If you experience chronic bad breath, it is important to seek medical attention to determine the cause. If your dentist finds that everything in your mouth is healthy, they may advise you to see your general doctor.