While bad breath or halitosis may sometimes be caused by poor oral hygiene, there may also be other underlying causes which contribute to bad breath and are often difficult to treat, despite all efforts to follow a healthy mouth and teeth cleaning routine.

This can cause great distress and even result in problems with relationships and difficulties in the workplace.

There are a number of causes of bad breath, including:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Gum disease (e.g. gum boils, abscesses, spongy gums, gingivitis)
• Multiplication of odor-causing bacteria in the mouth and digestive tract
• Candidiasis
• Chronic sinus infection
• Certain medications (especially those that cause dry mouth as a side effect)
• Smoking
• Some foods can cause bad breath (garlic, onions, anchovies, high protein diet)
• Poor digestion and sluggish liver
• Constipation

2. How do I know if I have bad breath?

Sometimes bad breath is noticed by an unpleasant or bitter taste in your mouth.

You can also check the smell of your saliva by licking the skin on your inner wrist and then smelling it. If it has an offensive odor, then the chances are that your breath is not as sweet as you would like it to be!

However, it is also possible to suffer from bad breath without being aware of it. If you notice that people tend to step away from you when you speak, turn their heads or cover their mouths, then bad breath may be a problem.

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