Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits or may be a sign of other health problems. Certain types of foods you eat and unhealthy lifestyle habits can worsen bad breath. You can take steps to prevent and treat halitosis, at home and with the help of your dentist or doctor.
Types of bad breath smell
Bad breath can vary widely in odor. What your bad breath smells like depends on its cause. The following are just a few examples (we’ll get into the causes below):
- Rotten eggs or sulfur
- A fruity, sweet odor
- A feces-like odor
- A fishy or urine-like odor
Bad Breath Causes
Bad breath can result from several factors, from medical conditions and medications, bad habits such as smoking, and the foods you eat.
Food and bad breath
The food you eat begins to break down in your mouth, leading to a buildup of bacteria that can cause bad breath. Also, foods are absorbed into your bloodstream and move to the lungs, affecting the air you exhale. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing, flossing, and even mouthwash can cover up the odor only temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body. Other common foods that can cause bad breath include:
- Cheese
- Pastrami
- Certain spices
- Orange juice or soda
- Alcohol
Likewise, dieters who don't eat often enough can have bad breath. When your body breaks down fat, it releases chemicals that can give your breath an unpleasant smell.
Hygiene habits
Most of the time, bad breath results from not taking good care of your teeth, such as not brushing and flossing daily and not seeing the dentist regularly for a deeper cleaning. This ups your risk of gum disease and allows bacteria to build up in the spaces between your teeth and gums. The subsequent breakdown of that bacteria releases chemicals that give your breath a rotten egg or sulfur-like smell.
Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) from poor dental hygiene can also cause bad breath. Also, odor-causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if you don’t clean your tongue or dentures.
Smoking also causes dry mouth and bad breath, and it raises your risk of gum disease (another cause of bad breath).
Bad breath after tooth extraction
When your dentist removes a tooth, a blood clot normally forms in the empty space as part of the healing process. However, in some cases, the clot becomes dislodged or it does not form at all. This leaves your bone and nerves exposed, a condition called dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, which causes pain as well as bad breath.
Conditions that cause bad breath
Gum disease. This results from the buildup of plaque, which is a thin layer of bacteria that forms on your teeth. If you don’t brush regularly, the plaque can cause gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, and get worse from there.
Dry mouth (xerostomia). Saliva helps keep things clean by carrying away some of the little bits of food that collect in your mouth. If you have dry mouth — for example, due to smoking — there won’t be enough saliva to move things along, leading to an accumulation of bad breath-causing bacteria. Some types of drugs also can cause dry mouth. These include:
- Some high blood pressure drugs, such as beta-blockers and diuretics
- Some antidepressants, such as older tricyclic antidepressants
- Antihistamines
- Decongestants
Infections. Sinus and throat infections can cause postnasal drip, a source of bad breath. Pneumonia (a lung infection) can make you cough up an unpleasant fluid that smells bad. Bacterial infections can lead to tooth abscesses, or pockets of pus, that may make your breath stink.
Diabetes. This puts you at higher risk of gum disease, a cause of bad breath. And that sweet, fruity odor mentioned earlier — it can result from a medical emergency called diabetic ketoacidosis, which causes a buildup of acids called ketones when you don’t get enough insulin.
Cancers of the head and neck. These can cause bad breath and include oral cancers, throat cancer, and cancer of the larynx.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This causes fluid and acid from your stomach to flow back into your esophagus. This leads to a sour taste in your mouth, leading to bad breath.
Liver and kidney disease. These two organs help rid your body of toxins. When they’re not working at full capacity, those toxins can linger and cause bad breath. Chronic kidney disease, for example, can lead your breath to smell fishy or like ammonia or urine.
Tonsil stones. Also called tonsilloliths, these form when food gets stuck in your tonsils and hardens into calcium deposits. Their primary symptom is bad breath.
Other diseases and illnesses can cause bad breath, including:
- Seasonal allergies
- Postnasal drip
- Gastrointestinal issues
How to Get Rid of Bad Breath
There are some quick and easy ways to get rid of bad breath. Just remember, the odor from what you eat can stick around until the food works its way completely out of your system — up to three days later.
Bad breath can be reduced or prevented if you:
- Treat what's causing your bad breath. If it’s due to an underlying health condition, treating that condition should improve your breath.
- Brush and floss more often. Practice good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your teeth after you eat. (Keep a toothbrush at work or school to brush after lunch.) Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or after an illness. Trapped food also adds to the problem. Use floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between teeth at least once a day.
- Rinse your mouth out. A mouthwash adds extra protection by getting rid of bacteria. You can also help your breath if you swish your mouth with plain water after you eat. It can help loosen up and free those trapped bits of food particles that get stuck in your teeth.
- Scrape your tongue. The coating that normally forms on your tongue can be a host for smelly bacteria. Tongue scrapers are designed specifically to apply even pressure across the surface of the tongue area and clear any buildup.
- Avoid foods that sour your breath. Onions and garlic are big offenders. But brushing after you eat them doesn't help.
- Skip after-dinner mints and chew gum instead. The bacteria in your mouth love sugar. They use it to make acid. This wears down your teeth and causes bad breath. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless candy also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Gums and mints containing xylitol are best.
- Keep your gums healthy. Antiseptic mouthwash can help kill bacteria that cause bad breath and plaque that can lead to gingivitis — an early, mild form of gum disease.
- Moisten your mouth. You can get tooth decay and bad breath if you don't make enough saliva. If your mouth is dry, drink plenty of water during the day. You can also try a humidifier at night to moisten the air in your house.
- Keep your dental devices clean. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the next morning. Clean braces and retainers as directed by your dentist.
- See your dentist regularly, at least twice a year. They will do an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning and will be able to find and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of bad breath.
- Stop smoking and chewing tobacco-based products. Ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat. Apples, carrots, celery, and other hard fruits and vegetables help clear odor-causing plaque and food particles from your mouth.
- Keep a log of the foods you eat. If you think they may be causing bad breath, bring the log to your dentist to review. Similarly, make a list of the medications you take. Some drugs may play a role in creating mouth odors.
Who Treats Bad Breath?
In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath.
If your dentist confirms that your mouth is healthy and the odor is not of oral origin, you may be referred to your family doctor or to a specialist to determine the odor source and treatment plan. You can go over a list of your medications with them to see if any of them could be adding to the problem. Work with them to keep diabetes, allergies, and other conditions under control.
If the odor is due to gum disease, for example, your dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating gum conditions.
Best Products for Bad Breath
Lots of products exist to help control or cover up bad breath. Here’s what to look for:
Best mouthwash for bad breath
Look for alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwashesthat contain antibacterial agents such as chlorhexidine and chlorine dioxide. These can help you get rid of bacteria that cause bad breath. Your dentist also can prescribe mouth rinses that target certain bacteria.
Best toothpaste for bad breath
Use a toothpaste that has fluoride, which helps prevent the growth of bacteria.
Bad breath home remedies
In addition to brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash to keep bacteria at bay, try the following:
- Clean your tongue. Bits of bacteria can collect in your tongue. Use a tongue scraper to remove it, potentially improving your breath. Some toothbrushes have built-in tongue scrapers.
- Keep your dental devices clean. Dentures and bridges should be cleaned daily, and retainers and mouth guards need to be cleaned right before you put them in. Your dentist will explain the best cleaning routine and products for you.
- Avoid dry mouth. Quit smoking, drink lots of water, and go easy on alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine. Gum and hard candy can help you produce more saliva. Opt for sugar-free varieties. If necessary, your doctor can prescribe a medication that will boost saliva production.
- Regularly replace your toothbrush. Swap your old toothbrush for a new one at least every three to four months. Make sure to use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Schedule regular visits to the dentist. For most people, this means every six months and involves a thorough cleaning and evaluation of your teeth.
Takeaways
Bad breath has many possible causes, but the most likely culprit is poor oral hygiene. Keeping your teeth and the rest of your mouth clean likely will solve the problem. However, underlying health conditions may be to blame. Talk to your doctor if your bad breath persists.
Bad Breath FAQs
How to get rid of bad breath
It may be a matter of improving your oral hygiene routine, meaning brushing and flossing every day. But if your bad breath has developed due to a health condition, addressing that should solve your bad breath problem. Your doctor can help.
Why do I have bad breath every day?
If you don’t brush and floss every day, that likely explains your bad breath. Poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of bad breath. But sometimes, certain health conditions may be to blame. See your doctor to find out the cause.
Can chronic bad breath be cured?
Yes, if you address the cause. Often, that means improving your daily oral hygiene routine. If an underlying health problem is the cause, treating that can help.
What is bad breath a symptom of?
Most of the time, it’s a symptom of poor oral hygiene. However, certain habits and health conditions can cause bad breath, including:
- Smoking
- Dry mouth
- Gum disease
- Kidney and liver disease
- Diabetes
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Infections in your lungs, sinuses, and throat
