Would you believe that there are ninety million people in the United States alone suffering from chronic bad breath? That’s a lot of halitosis!
What causes all that bad breath? These are the top culprits:
- The food you eat. Some things are just stinkier than others — like garlic or onions. Food can also contribute to problems with bacteria in the mouth (see number 3 for the explanation).
- Tobacco and alcohol. They can leave your mouth stinky!
- Bacteria that lives in the mouth. When bacteria in the mouth interact with food particles, they can give off stinky by-products. Bacteria can build up if you don’t clean your teeth and mouth properly.
- Serious illness can leave you with bad breath. Diabetes and GERD are two common culprits for chronic bad breath. An acute infection like a sore throat or tonsillitis can sometimes come with bad breath, too. Sometimes liver and/or kidney disease also come with halitosis — toxins from the affected organs can sometimes be excreted through the lungs.
- Gum disease and dry mouth. These conditions make it easy for bacteria to grow out of control. Dry mouth is especially bad for your breath — saliva helps flush out the mouth and move bacteria. If you aren’t producing enough saliva, the bacteria can multiply.
- Low-carb diets. Ketosis is a condition where the body burns stored fats for fuel instead of carbs — often seen in people who are eating a high protein, low carb diet. As the stored fat gets burned up, ketones build up in your system. Some of those ketones are released through the breath — and they don’t smell good.
If chronic bad breath is a problem, the best thing you can do is keep your mouth clean. Brush, floss, and scrape your tongue twice daily. The American Dental Association says that cleaning your tongue is key for keeping your breath fresh. Keeping your mouth moist can help avoid bad breath, too. Try to avoid stinky foods and instead drink tea (plant chemicals can help prevent bacteria growth) or chew parsley for naturally fresh breath.