What Causes Bad Breath

Most people experience bad breath at some time or another — often upon waking up or after eating certain foods. That’s because eating, drinking, oral hygiene and sleep influence the bacteria that cause bad breath.

In a small number of people, bad breath is the result of digestive or metabolic disorders, but in 9 out 10 cases, bacteria is the culprit.

Bacteria breed in warm, wet places like your mouth. And the food you consume provides food for them as well. As they break down this food, bacteria produce several nasty side effects, including plaque acid and hydrogen sulfide, a major component of bad breath.

Your tongue, with its millions of tiny grooves and crevices, provides an excellent place for bacteria to hide. Saliva usually helps to wash away these bacteria, but because salvia production slows down as you sleep, bacteria have a chance to build up during that time — leading to that “morning mouth.”

Some other things that can cause bad breath include:

• garlic, onions, fish and diets rich in red meats and fats

• alcohol, cigarettes and certain medications that dry out the mouth

• gum disease and tooth decay provide places for bacteria to grow