Bad breath can have a variety of sources. The most common and frequent causes can be your poor oral hygiene, a sinus infection, vomiting, ketoacidosis, GERD, or liver failure.

 

Everyone has suffered from bad breath at some point. It is disturbing to have bad breath after brushing, especially if mouthwash has not helped.

 

There are some simple and harmless reasons for bad breath, but some issues causing bad breath can be more serious and require medical attention.

 

Possible Bad Breath Causes

 

There are a variety of causes of bad breath. Here are a few:

 

1. Poor Hygiene- Poor oral hygiene will cause bad breath. Neglecting to brush and floss your teeth every day creates bad breath because of the continuous buildup of plaque and bacteria. Food particles remain in your mouth because you did not floss between your teeth, causing bad breath. Gum disease is also a result of poor oral hygiene and causes bad breath. Ignoring your daily oral hygiene habits at home leads to an accumulation of bacteria in your mouth, which causes an odor. Restorative appliances like dentures or bridges, which are not meticulously cleaned, also cause halitosis.
2. Sinus Infections- Sinus and respiratory infections cause bad breath. These can be the result of viral colds, strep throat, bronchitis, or more. When bacteria advance from your nose to your throat, it causes bad breath. Other symptoms of sinus infection are thick nasal drainage, a cold that lasts longer than ten days, headaches, cough, sore throat, postnasal drip, low-grade fever, irritability and fatigue, or swollen eyes.
3. Vomiting- Prolonged vomiting and the ensuing dehydration result in bad breath from dry mouth. Saliva naturally consistently cleans your mouth and reduces odor, but when you are dehydrated, you do not create enough saliva.
4. GERD- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, causes bad breath. This is your stomach acid flowing backward into your esophagus. This acidic backwash irritates your esophageal lining, causing discomfort. If you have GERD, you can experience mild to severe reflux, which happens a few times a week, a persistent cough, difficulty swallowing, laryngitis, heartburn after eating, the feeling of a lump in your throat, asthma, or the inability to sleep well.
5. Bowel Obstruction- An intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency when there is a blockage in either your small or large intestine. A blockage in your intestines causes bad breath from trapped feces in your intestines, and from food that does not pass into your intestinal tract. Besides bad breath, intestinal obstruction causes decreased appetite, constipation, vomiting, nausea, severe cramps, and abdominal pain.
6. Ketoacidosis- Ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes. It is the result of your body producing an excessive level of acid in your blood called ketones. It is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Ketoacidosis causes bad breath from dry mouth or vomiting.
7. Liver Failure- Liver failure can be either acute or chronic. Acute liver failure occurs quickly and requires immediate medical attention. It also causes bad breath due to dehydration. If you have liver failure, you can experience weight loss, appetite loss, nausea, fatigue, itching, jaundice, diarrhea, or bruising or bleeding.

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