By Healthy Living June 18, 2020 - 7:53am

Bad breath, also called halitosis, is a quite embarrassing condition that can interfere with normal activity and even spoil relationships. The biggest problem is that people usually don’t notice the unpleasant odor from the mouth. Despite the fact that it could be unpleasant to hear from someone that you have bad breath, it is important to understand that this condition can be caused by quite serious factors. In this article, we gathered six dangerous causes of bad breath you should be aware of.

1. Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which a person experiences high blood sugar levels. It is important to know that people with diabetes are more prone to various dental issues. That’s why they should regularly visit a dentist in order to avoid serious complications. Moreover, only a dentist can recognize early signs of certain diseases that can be easily treated at initial stages. Due to the fact that people with diabetes usually suffer from a lack of salivation, they can often experience bad breath.

2. Gum disease
Gum disease is considered one of the most common oral issues that can cause bad breath. This condition is caused by an infection that makes your gums inflamed. At the initial stages (gingivitis), gum disease causes gum redness, swelling, and minor bleeding during tooth brushing.

If left untreated, gum disease can advance into a more severe form that is called periodontitis. This condition is accompanied by bleeding gums, gum pockets, loose teeth, and bad breath. If the gums become too weak, they can’t hold the teeth and they start to fall out. In this case, dental implants can be the only way out. Moreover, when the gum pockets occur, they tend to accumulate plaque and food particles. Due to the fact that it is quite hard to clean them thoroughly, a person with periodontitis often has bad breath.

3. Poor oral hygiene
Poor oral hygiene can also lead to unpleasant breath. If you don’t brush your teeth twice a day and avoid flossing, your gums and teeth may be covered with plaque and tartar. Moreover, food particles can also stick between your teeth and rot. This can create an unpleasant odor.

It is also important to understand that your mouth is full of bacteria. If you don’t clean your teeth thoroughly, they start to eat leftovers and produce acids. These acids destroy your tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. If left untreated, tooth decay can even aggravate your bad breath.

4. Thrush
Thrush is a condition in which the candida yeast inhabits your mouth. Little children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more prone to get this disease. The most common symptoms of thrush include:

- White or yellow patches in the oral cavity
- Red tissues in the mouth
- Cracks on the lips and mouth corners
- Pain and discomfort while eating
- Unpleasant mouth odor

Thrush can occur as a result of medication. People who were treated for cancer and took antibiotics often develop thrush. If you wear dentures, you can also get thrush.

5. Smoking
People who smoke constantly face a lot of oral health issues including bad breath. It is important to understand that tobacco by-products tend to accumulate on teeth and gums. This makes the teeth darker and contributes to gum disease. In addition to this, smokers are more prone to tooth decay that also aggravates bad breath.

6. Dry mouth
Dry mouth is a condition in which a person experiences a lack of saliva. The most common causes of dry mouth include:

- Certain medications
- Dehydration
- Certain diseases and infections
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption

It is important to know that saliva is an essential part of digestion. It moisturizes the food and this helps it pass the esophagus easier. Moreover, saliva removes food particles and plaque from the teeth. As mentioned above, they can cause bad breath.