Halitosis (commonly known as simply “bad breath”) affects around one in four people in the United States. In most of these cases, the bad breath comes from one of five reasons: bacterial growth, diet choice, dry mouth, smoking, and disease.
Many are finding that brushing their tongue helps reduce bad breath by disrupting and scrubbing away bacteria living on your tongue. Some of the bacteria that live in the mouth are responsible for producing bad odors.
Others find that certain foods are the biggest culprits. Garlic and onion are the most notorious ones, but eating diets low in vegetables can also be a source of bad breath. Another very common source of bad breath is having a dry mouth. Without saliva washing away bacteria, dead cells, and food particles on a regular basis the resulting smell tends to linger.
There are other factors that can cause halitosis. People with diabetes, kidney failure, lung infections, or liver failure can also suffer from halitosis as a result of their disease. Smoking, as something that inherently does not smell good and dries out the mouth, can also be a culprit.
If you find that you have chronic halitosis, it may be worth considering going to see a dentist about it, as they can provide the proper steps needed towards getting rid of it.