Most people are affected by bad breath at some time in their lives. Bad breath can have a number of different causes. In many cases, people who have bad breath are not aware of the problem themselves.
Bad breath is often causes by inflammation of the gums or caries. The bad odeur is caused by hydrogen sulphide compounds from bacterial combustion of food and from inflammation of the gums. Bacteria thrive in cavities and gingival pockets. Bad odeur can follow from inflammation caused by a breakthrough of a wisdom tooth or from quinsy. The general oral environment is also an important factor in the development of bad breath. Dryness of the mouth imposes a greater risk of bad breath than if the oral environment has sufficient humidity. Oral bacteria can transform food debris and dead skin cells into methyl mercaptan which smells like rotten seaweed.
Other health problems that are connected to bad breath are nasal infections in the adenoids or nasal sinuses, that make way for the production of a smelly pus. The mucosa in the upper airways can also be infected by bacteria producing a bad odeur that dominates the breath.
Bad breath can also originate from the gastro-intestinal tract. The oesophagus can be lined with bulges that can accumulate food materials. Eventually, this material will become rotten and produce a foul odeur.
In the stomach, the production of gastric acid can be insufficient and the intestinal motions sluggish in character. This makes way for indigestion. Food material arrested in the intestines can also become rotten, and gasses from the putrefaction can enter the bloodstream to be liberated in the lungs for exhalation, and in this way cause bad breath.
Some provisions can in themselves cause bad breath; the most well-known examples are garlic and seasoned cheese, but other provisions also have this ability.
The risk of bad breath the following day is greater if one has a late meal the night before than if the meal is had earlier in the evening, since the digestion of a late meal will not be completed the following morning.
Tobacco, alcohol, and certain kinds of prescripted medicine can all dominate the breath.
Finally, bad breath can be realated to certain diseases. Cancer, diabetes, liver- and kidney disease can all cause charecteristic odeurs that are liberated with expiration.
