Is Bad Breath a Sign of Illness?
Occasional bad breath is not necessarily a sign of anything bad going on; more often, it is just evidence of something that you ate or drank. This type of bad breath should resolve once you brush and floss, but if you have halitosis, chronic bad breath that does not go away after brushing and flossing, that could be a symptom of oral disease or an underlying medical condition.
Is bad breath a sign of illness?
It is important to see your dentist if you notice any new signs of chronic bad breath that go beyond after meals and morning breath. There are some health issues that have halitosis as a side effect, including bowel disorders, poor digestion, acid reflux, and constipation.
Additionally, patients with sinus or tonsil infections and even certain blood disorders may have bad breath. Bad breath can even be a sign of metabolic disorders or even cancer.
Other Causes of Bad Breath
Poor Oral Hygiene
The most common cause of chronic bad breath is bacteria and tartar trapped in the gum pockets. Brushing at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush ensures that any plaque accumulation along the gum line is removed. Flossing removes plaque from between the teeth and should be done at least once a day. Incorporating a tongue scraper into your routine can be extremely beneficial for keeping your breath fresh as well. Oral care products containing antibacterial agents will help keep bacteria at healthy levels.
Food and Beverage
Many items we consume regularly cause bad breath: garlic, onions, coffee, and alcohol are well known to give one temporary bad breath. A malodorous smell from some things we take in can stick around for a few days, but once your body fully metabolizes them and you brush and floss, any bad breath should resolve itself.
Patients with a high-sugar diet can experience 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; and high-protein diets can cause bad breath if you take in more protein than your body can process.
Prescription Medication
There are some medications that cause dry mouth, and with the decreased saliva production, bacteria and food particles are not cleaned away as well. Other medications cause bad breath when the medication breaks down and is carried into the bloodstream.
Stress
Stress and anxiety can cause a physical reaction within the body, including bad breath. Panicked breathing can dry out your mouth. If you do not eat regularly when you are stressed, 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.
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 either determine the cause or if you need to see your general practitioner for further evaluation of a possible underlying medical issue.
If you are suffering from bad breath, consider an examination.