Bad Breath: Causes and The Best Tips

Bad breath is probably something everyone finds unpleasant. But how does the bad smelling air actually originate and what helps? Here are the best tips.

What is bad breath?

Bad breath is generally understood to be bad breath that comes out of the mouth. In some cases the bad smell also escapes through the nose (halitosis). In a good 90 percent of cases, the cause is in the mouth itself (Foetor ex ore = bad breath from the mouth), for example due to poor oral hygiene. But also various stimulants such as coffee or alcohol as well as various diseases promote bad breath. Depending on the trigger, brushing teeth or chewing gum can often help to get rid of bad breath.

Causes of bad breath

Depending on whether the bad breathing air comes only from the mouth or also from the nose, there can be different causes. These include:

Bad breath only comes out of the mouth:

• Various dishes, e.g. onions or garlic
• Lack of oral hygiene, e.g. due to brushing teeth too rarely or food residues in the mouth
• Tooth problems, e.g. toothache caused by tooth decay (you can find home remedies for toothache here), inflammation of the gums or tartar
• Coating on the tongue (by bacteria)
• Pleasure drinks like coffee or alcohol
• Little salivation, e.g. due to a dry mouth
• Smoking
• Malnutrition
• Infections in the oral cavity, e.g. by fungi
• Various diseases favour bad breath, e.g. salivary gland diseases, inflammation of the oral mucosa or tonsils

Bad breath from mouth and nose:

• Various foods like garlic or onions cause bad breath
• Poisonings
• Chronic diseases, e.g. chronic sinusitis or rhinitis
• Tumours
• Heartburn
• Respiratory diseases like purulent bronchitis
• Stomach diseases such as stomach ulcers or cancer
• Esophageal diseases
• Incompatibilities or allergies to certain foods, e.g. coeliac disease
• Intestinal obstruction, kidney or liver failure

Although there are many possible underlying diseases that can cause bad breath, most of them are unlikely to cause it. The first thing you should always do is to check your own oral hygiene. People who brush their teeth two or three times a day should not have bad breath. The next obvious cause is possible dental problems such as tooth decay, although you may not yet notice them through pain or the like. The only thing that helps here is going to the dentist. The dentist can check the teeth, but he or she can also look directly for other possible triggers for bad breath such as an infection or gum inflammation.

Caries, dental care and etc.: The best tips against bad breath

Depending on the cause of bad breath, there are various tips to help get rid of it. However, serious underlying illnesses must first be treated before anything can be done about bad breath. These tips also help:

• Pay attention to good dental care through proper tooth cleaning: Brushing your teeth two or three times a day, using small brushes for the interdental spaces, flossing and using a mouthwash are useful against bad breath
• Go to regular check-ups
• Luxury foods such as coffee etc. should only be consumed in moderation
• Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water
• Foods that produce bad smells should only be eaten in exceptional cases