Garlic, onions, fish, horseradish, coffee, cigarette smoking — these and a few other things are commonly blamed for having a stinky mouth. Also known as halitosis in the medical world, bad breath is something that can definitely offend and cause some serious embarrassment on the guilty party. This is the reason why today’s oral care market is a multi-billion industry!
Did you know that having bad breath can also be due to a handful of other reasons aside from the food you eat or skipping brushing and flossing? If constantly reaching for that bottle of mouthwash or chewing on gum cannot seem to make your mouth easy on the nose, consider some of these surprising causes of bad breath:
Not Eating Your Breakfast
We all know that the most important meal of the day is breakfast. It’s also something that can help put an end to your morning breath. Eating oatmeal, cereals or any other breakfast staple in your dining room can help stimulate the flow of saliva, washing away odor-causing bacteria that have accumulated in your mouth while you’re in dreamland.
Using Your Favorite Alcohol-Based Mouthwash
This may be hard to believe, but relying on your mouthwash can actually make your breath stink, in particular if you are using something that’s alcohol-based. Alcohol can cause your mouth to end up dry, which is not a good thing because your saliva is your mouth’s natural germ-fighter. It’s a good idea to consider switching to alcohol-free mouthwash.
Drinking Excessive Amounts of Alcohol
Just like what’s mentioned above, alcohol can leave the mouth dry which can cause bad breath. It’s for this reason why the consumption of too much alcohol can also cause your breath to smell offensive. Certain alcoholic drinks also contain sugar, and it’s no secret that sugar can cause bacteria in the mouth to multiply uncontrollably.
Having a Bout of Allergy
Your breath is at high risk of ending up smelly if you have a cold or sinusitis. That’s because excessive mucus lodged in your throat can cause inflammation and promote the growth of odor-causing microbes. Having an allergy may also leave you breathing through your mouth, something that can cause bad breath.
Packing Unwanted Body Pounds
Experts say that being overweight not only makes your figure unflattering and leaves your health in peril, but also causes your mouth to reek. Such is based on a study involving obese individuals. It is believed that it’s very much likely due to poor dietary choices as well as breathing issues that can leave one’s breath smelling foul.
Opting for a Diet That’s Low in Carbohydrates
Energy is not the only thing that you will lose if you go for a low-carbohydrate diet, but also your friends. According to the experts, the body turns to protein and fat for energy if it’s not supplied with carbohydrates, which is a process that produces the so-called ketones that can make your breath really stinky.
Having Anxiety
Anxiety is something that causes your body to go on a fight or flight mode, which causes an assortment of mental and physical effects. One of the things it brings is mouth dryness. Naturally, an oral cavity that’s deprived of saliva can cause the breath to reek. Also, long-term anxiety can cause inflammation, and it can contribute to having bad breath.
Suffering From Gum Disease
Gum disease is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the mouth due to the growth of plaque and bacteria. Since there’s an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth, it doesn’t come as a surprise why your breath smells foul. Another bad thing about gum disease is it can cause tooth loss and permanent gum and jaw bone damage if left untreated.
