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The Real Causes of Bad Breath and What You Can Do About It

  • February 06, 2018

Up to 50 percent of the population is estimated to suffer from bad breath. Also known as halitosis, bad breath affects not only the sufferer, but those around the afflicted person. In the most severe cases, anyone unfortunate enough to fall within bad breath range is also subjected to an unpleasant or even nauseating experience. 

One of the most common forms of bad breath is morning breath, and The Daily Mail says they have found both the cause and the solution. Snoring, a dry mouth, food stuck in your teeth, and chewing gum before bed were all cited as common causes of morning breath. Their solutions are chewing parsley first thing in the morning, switching to baking soda and eating celery or apples.

What they failed to mention is that better dental hygiene can at best temporarily suppress bad breath. For example, many mouthwashes contain sodium chlorite. Although these products claim to freshen you breath for up to six hours, an independent study shows that sodium chlorite can only do so for anywhere from four to 42 minutes. 

While these mouth rinses focus on altering the chemical composition of the rancid gases, they do nothing to stop the bacteria causing bad breath. In most circumstances, halitosis stems from odor-inducing microbes that reside in between your teeth and gums, and on your tongue. It can also be caused by bacteria linked to gum disease. Roughly 10 percent of the population has severe gum disease and chronic halitosis. Decomposing and decaying organic material, including blood, from inflamed gums can lead to putrid breath in acute cases.  

A better option than mouth rinses are essential oils like thyme, peppermint, wintergreen and eucalyptus. Several studies, including one from the University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center, New York, has found that these natural solutions reduce inflammation and plaque that may cause bad breath.

Another natural technique that can promote oral health is oil pulling. This ancient Ayurvedic Indian tradition is done by swishing oil in your mouth, "pulling" it between your teeth for 20 to 30 minutes. This practice is said to kill pathogenic bacteria, promote optimal oral hygiene and detoxify your system. If you decide to try this, I suggest using coconut oil.

Even natural oils have limitations, and the key to freshening your breath for good is to address the underlying cause. Bad breath can often be linked to lifestyle choices and what you are putting in your body. For instance, taking drugs exposes you to a wide number of synthetic, chemical compounds, which are likely linked to a wide variety of side effects, including dry mouth.

Don’t confuse dry mouth with bad breath, but keep in mind that saliva plays a significant role in reducing halitosis. It helps rinse odor-producing germs from your mouth. If you suspect that the root cause of your foul breath is drug-induced, see your doctor about adjusting your medications. Another habit that can cause dry mouth (and possibly bad breath) is breathing through your mouth. Adopting proper breathing strategies may be the best remedy in this case. Snoring is also a serious problem that should be addressed and is also a cause of dry mouth. 

There are multiple mechanisms through which alcohol can give you rotten breath. The obvious one is that the scent of alcohol lingers on your breath and it can also give you dry mouth. Cigarettes are a multifaceted source of both noxious toxins and noxious breath. They not only contain teeth-staining chemicals and a strong odor, but also negatively impact your health. 

If you are worried that your breath smells foul, it might be time to look at what you are eating. In your gut reside trillions of bacteria that influence your bodily functions. A poor diet can provide an ideal environment for bad bacteria, and this imbalance can predispose you to a wide number of serious health problems, as well as both body odor and bad breath. 

The worst foods you can consume are processed, which predominantly contain sugar and grains that break into sugar. These two disrupt your microflora balance by allowing bad bacteria, fungi and yeast to thrive and multiply, producing metabolic waste products that lead to the deterioration of your health. Breath that crosses the threshold from bad to repulsive breath may be an indication that a poor diet has resulted in a toxic environment in your gut. 

Nobody wants to have rank-smelling breath, which can be extremely humiliating when commented upon. If you suffer from foul breath, avoid sugar, factory farmed meats, chlorinated water, antibacterial products and agricultural pesticides. My comprehensive nutrition plan contains step-by-step ways to promote your diet and better breath. If you want to eradicate bad breath for good you should make a point of reseeding your gut with healthy bacteria and consuming only whole and nourishing real food from sustainable sources.