What Causes Halitosis

Halitosis, or bad breath can be one of the most embarrassing problems to have and the sad thing about this condition is that although it affects more than half of the world’s population, many people are not aware that they have it. This makes it doubly important for everybody to know what the causes of halitosis are and how to treat the condition.

Bear in mind that if you do have bad breath, the people around you may already be aware of it even though you are not. Because of the embarrassment associated with halitosis, most people will not say anything to you about the problem and may choose to either avoid close contact with you or just grin and bear it.

There can be several causes of halitosis, the most common of which are oral bacteria, smoking, certain foods and health problems. Bacteria that reside in the mouth, particularly in the back of the tongue, can excrete sulfur compounds that cause unpleasant odors in out mouth. Needless to say, constant smoking will leave cigarette odor in your mouth permanently, causing you to emit a nasty smell when you speak.

Food such as onion or garlic may also leave you with bad breath. The good news is that halitosis caused by food intake is usually temporary and usually disappears after a few minutes or after brushing. Certain health disorders also cause bad breath, most especially gum disease and sinusitis. Halitosis caused by these underlying conditions can be more serious, and consultation with a doctor may be required.

Generally, maintaining proper oral hygiene is still the best way to avoid halitosis. Remember to brush for at least two minutes and at least twice every day. Brush or scrape your tongue as well to remove oral bacteria and floss your teeth to dislodge any food particles between your teeth. Doing this regularly will take you a long way towards beating the causes of halitosis and leaving your breath fresh and sweet.