Why Does My Breath Smell?

Published April 28, 2023

Does your breath smells foul and asked yourself, “Why does my breath smell?” Halitosis, commonly referred to as bad breath, is an oral health issue that causes offensive-smelling breath. While eating smelly foods like fish or drinking alcohol can cause bad odor, bacteria in the mouth, particularly on the tongue, is one of the leading causes.

As a waste, bacteria in the mouth excrete “volatile sulfur compounds” (VSCs). So if you have foul breath, it’s probably because of these bacteria in your mouth. Food, improper dental care, bad habits, and long-term health problems all contribute to the unpleasant odor of bad breath.

Why Does My Breath Smell?

The first step in treating this avoidable condition is to determine the root cause of the offensive smell. Included among the possible causes are the following:

Mouth, Nose, and Throat Conditions

Sometimes tonsil stones, which are covered in odor-causing bacteria, are the source of bad breath. In addition, postnasal drip can be caused by infections or chronic inflammation in the sinuses, throat, or nose. This inflammation can also lead to bad breath.

Food

When food particles break down in your mouth, bacteria can grow and produce an unpleasant odor. Onions and garlic are among the foods that may lead to bad breath. After these foods are digested, they get into the bloodstream, get to the lungs, and may affect your breath.

Medications

Certain medications can indirectly cause bad odor by causing dry mouth. While others can release chemicals when broken down in your body to produce chemicals that can cause bad breath.

Tobacco Products

Cigarette smoking causes a bad odor in your mouth. Additionally, smokers and users of oral tobacco are inclined to acquire gum disease, another cause of bad breath.

Mouth Infections

Following oral surgery, such as the removal of a tooth or as a result of gum disease, tooth decay, or mouth sores, surgical wounds may cause bad breath.

Dry Mouth

Saliva helps to cleanse the mouth by removing particles that contribute to foul breath. A condition known as xerostomia can lead to having a bad breath by reducing saliva production. A dry mouth occurs naturally during sleep, resulting in “morning breath,” which is worsened by sleeping with an open mouth. Chronic dry mouth can be caused by a problem with your salivary glands or certain diseases.

Poor Dental Hygiene

Your breath can smell bad if you do not brush and floss your teeth daily since food particles will remain in your mouth, and a colorless film of bacteria forms on your teeth. In addition, plaque can irritate the gums and form plaque-filled cavities between the teeth and gums if it is not removed. Additionally, your tongue is prone to trapping bacteria that release odors. Furthermore, dentures that are not cleaned routinely or that do not fit properly may hold bacteria and food particles that cause a bad smell.