The oral cavity harbors millions of bacteria, located at the back of the tongue responsible for causing bad breath. Moreover the warmth, moisture and food rich environment is most suitable for bacterial growth, which produces bad breath.

In certain situations bad smell is normal and do not result into disease. As an example the morning mouth, which one experiences changes during sleep. During day time saliva secretion mobilizes decaying food and odor.

Causes of Bad Breath:

At night the saliva secretion is greatly diminished causing dryness of mouth dead cells are sticking on the tongue and inner surface of cheeks. The bacteria thrive on these dead cells emanating bad smelling odor.

Besides above bad breath is caused by Poor dental hygiene care allowing decay of food particles in mouth cavity.

Bad Practices:

A number of persons suffer from Halitosis commonly known as bad breath and they are not well informed about its corrective measures. There are basically three causes of bad breath as given below:

1 – Eating foods having strong odor:

Onions, garlic, fish and peanut butter are very strong smelling food items.

After their consumption, a portion of these foods remain sticking on the surface

of oral cavity, generating strong bad breath of temporary nature.

2 – Not Maintaining Good Oral hygiene:

After eating food, the teeth are to be brushed in a proper manner.

Perform flossing and gargling with mouth wash.  It is necessary to curb bad breath.

3 – Following  dental conditions can cause Bad Breath:

Presence of a gum disease, cancer in oral cavity, teeth cavities and presence of bacterial growth on the tongue mucosa combine to generate foul smell. A help of the dentist is required to rectify such conditions.

Bad breath can be due to Infections present in mouth cavity like following gum diseases and other disorders:

• Reddened or swelling of gums, which start bleeding on brushing or flossing.
• Presence of Pus in between teeth or abscess at base of a tooth.
• Loosening of teeth or a change in how a denture fits.
• Painful, open sores on the tongue or gums

• Infections of Respiratory tract i.e. Throat, sinus or lungs.
• Consuming items having strong odor like Garlic, onion, coffee, smoking, tobacco chewing.
• Dry mouth or Xerostomia due to salivary gland disorder, medicinal effect or habit of mouth breathing.
• Systemic Diseases like Diabetes, diseases of liver, kidney, lungs, sinus, reflux effect etc.
• Psychiatric illness: Few persons start believing that they are having bad breath not noticed by others. The condition is known as pseudohalitosis.

Losing the Sense of Bad Smell:

Odor detection by cells of the nose after prolonged bad odor get accustomed to bad smell and it becomes a normal for the person emitting foul smell, which other persons feel and act to avoid face to face talking.

Suggested Corrective Measures:

• Regular brushing even the tongue, flossing and antiseptic gargles and cleaning by the dentist is necessary to correct otherwise difficult bad breath.

• The process of chewing of gums helps to reduce the bad breath, because mouth remains moist combined with tooth paste application or applying oral hygiene preparations to stop long standing bad breath problem.

• Bad breath produces a smell, which is not liked by the persons with whom you are talking causing avoidance by the other person. Bad breath can recur and lasts longer if not corrected.