6 Surprising Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath doesn’t just ruin dates. It can also be a problem that embarrasses you every time you open your mouth to talk to someone. Worst of all, a surprising number of people suffer from bad breath, even if they practice proper oral hygiene.
We all know that onions and garlic cause your mouth to smell. But if you avoid these foods and have tried everything to make your mouth smell more pleasant, you may be surprised by what’s really causing your bad breath. Check out 6 surprising causes of bad breath below to see if you can discover the culprit causing your oral problem.

Your Habit of Not Eating Breakfast

When it comes to your breath, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Eating in the morning banishes morning breath by promoting salivation and getting rid of some of the bacteria that causes the stink in your mouth. Try munching on citrus fruits or nuts for the best results. And avoid onions, of course.

Your Sick Nose

Just because you can’t smell it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Sinus problems, like allergies and even a normal cold, can cause bad breath. The mucus in your nose drips down to the back of your throat, which doesn’t make your mouth smell too great. Not only that, but when you have a stuffy nose, it’s likely that you’ll breath through your mouth instead. When this happens, you’re drying your mouth of the saliva that helps to wash away nasty-smelling bacteria.

Your Snoring Problem

Learning that you snore is bad news in itself. Unfortunately, we’ve got even more bad news about your sleeping problem: snoring might be the reason you wake up with horrible breath every morning. When you snore in the middle of the night, it’s likely you’re breathing with your mouth open. Just like with a stuffy nose or sleep apnea, this causes your saliva to dry out and gives you bad breath.

Sticky Food and Candy

When you eat sticky food or candy, you’re not the only one enjoying it. Bacteria love munching on the tasty foods your saliva can’t wash away. Food like peanut butter, gummy bears and laffy taffy can stick around in your teeth for hours, causing bacteria to grow and multiply in hard-to-reach places in your mouth. Try to avoid these kinds of food if you suffer from bad breath regularly.

Your Meds

Though your medications may be helping you with other issues, they might not be helping your mouth smell any better. A dry mouth is a side-effect of many common meds, including antidepressants, antibiotics, and painkillers, like aspirin. When your mouth is dry, your saliva is no longer getting rid of odorous bacteria.

Your Mouthwash

This one is probably the most surprising. Instead of making your mouth smell better, your mouthwash may be the cause of your bad breath. Mouthwash that contains a lot of alcohol can cause your mouth to dry out, promoting the buildup of bacteria. As long as you buy mouthwash that is alcohol-free, you should be fine.
We hope this information helps you to find the culprit of your bad breath. If you still can’t figure out what’s causing your nasty mouth odor, feel free to visit us at Water Tower Dental Care. The problem may be a dental issue. If that’s the case, we can definitely help you out.