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Bad breath is serious problem which can cause serious emotional and psychological stress to the patient. The thorough understanding of bad breath causes is very important in enabling you deal with this condition once and for all. The medical professionals refer to the bad breath as halitosis. It refers to the condition in which the mouth produces unusual and disturbing bad smell.

There are very many bad breath causes. If you cannot know for sure the exact cause of the bad breath it would be wise if you consult medical professional so that the condition can be addressed quickly. A normal health mouth should not produce any smell. Some of the bad breath causes include the following

Poor hygiene of mouth and teeth: this is among the leading bad breath causes. If you do not brush your teeth properly using the recommended toothpaste, there will be accumulation of food particles in the mouth. This accumulation will lead to the growth of bacteria in the mouth and this will cause serious bad breath. These bacteria may also induce tooth decay and development of gum diseases. You are advised to brush your teeth at least two times every day and then rinse your mouth with fresh water in order to get rid of the food particles in the mouth. You are also advised to rinse mouth with iodine and fluoride solutions in order to kill any bacteria that may be developing.

DIET: some certain types of foods my directly cause or aggravate an existing condition of bad breath. The foods that have strong smell may cause bad breath. Such foods include onions, garlic and other exotic spices like the curry powder. Some sugary and acidic beverages like the tea and coffee as well as cheese and fish are also termed as possible bad breath causes. Some other foods may induce stomach upsets leading to bad breath. Fish oil, carbohydrates -rich diets and some types of capsules have also been cited as possible bad breath causes.

TOBACCO: the intake and consumption by smoking or chewing of the substances that are made from tobacco can cause staining of the teeth, irritation of the gums and even decaying of the teeth. All these changes that are caused by tobacco in the mouth may lead to bad breath.

Dry mouth: Dry mouth is a medical condition which requires treatment. It is referred to by doctors as xerostomia. If the mouth is dry because of low amounts of saliva, it is likely to exude bad odor. The saliva lubricates the mouth and removes the food particles which may accumulate leading to bad odor.

DENTAL APPLIANCES AND DENTURES: improper cleaning of the dentures and the dental appliances may cause bad breath because of the accumulation of food particles and bacteria in between them.

CHRONIC ILLNESSES: some types of chronic illnesses may have serious adverse effect on the secretion of saliva in the mouth leading to drying of mouth which as seen earlier causes bad breath. Some of the chronic illnesses that may cause bad breath include diabetes, throat infections, chronic sinusitis, gum diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and respiratory tract infections.