Bad breath can have a wide range of sources. The most common and frequent causes might be your poor oral hygiene, a sinus infection, vomiting, ketoacidosis, GERD, or liver failure.
Almost everyone has dealt with bad breath at some point. It is troubling to have bad breath after brushing, especially if mouthwash has not helped.
There are some simple and harmless reasons for bad breath, yet 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:
- Poor Hygiene- Poor oral hygiene will cause bad breath. Neglecting to brush and floss your teeth every day makes your breath smell because of the continuous buildup of plaque and bacteria. Food particles remain because you did not floss between your teeth, resulting in bad breath. Gum disease is a result of poor oral hygiene and will cause bad breath. Ignoring your daily oral health care at home leads to an accumulation of bacteria in your mouth, which then causes an odor. Restorative appliances such as dentures or bridges, which are not meticulously cleaned, also cause halitosis.
- Sinus Infections- Sinus and respiratory infections will cause bad breath. These might be the result of viral colds, strep throat, bronchitis, or more. When bacteria travel from your nose to your throat, it results in bad breath. Other symptoms of sinus infection are thick nasal drainage, a cold that lasts longer than ten days, headaches, a low-grade fever, irritability and fatigue, cough, sore throat, postnasal drip, or swollen eyes.
- Vomiting- Prolonged vomiting and the ensuing dehydration result in bad breath from dry mouth. Saliva naturally consistently cleans your mouth and reduces any odor, but when you are dehydrated, you are not creating enough saliva.
- GERD- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, results in bad breath. This is your stomach acid flowing backward into your esophagus. This acidic backwash irritates the esophageal lining, causing discomfort. If you have GERD, you could experience mild to severe reflux, which happens a few times a week, a persistent cough, difficulty swallowing, heartburn after eating, laryngitis, the feeling of a lump in your throat, asthma, or the inability to sleep well.
- 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 will cause bad breath due to the trapped feces in your intestines, and from food that cannot now proceed into your intestinal tract. Besides bad breath, intestinal obstruction causes decreased appetite, constipation, nausea, vomiting, severe cramps, and abdominal pain.
- 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.
- Liver Failure- Liver failure can be either chronic or acute. Acute liver failure happens quickly and requires immediate medical attention. It will also cause bad breath due to dehydration. If you have liver failure, you could experience weight loss, nausea, fatigue, appetite loss, itching, jaundice, diarrhea, or bruising or bleeding.