Surprising reasons why you have bad breath
Dehydration
When you become dehydrated through illness or not taking on sufficient fluids, you produce less saliva which then allows more plaque to accumulate in the mouth, which is mainly bacteria – as they ferment the sugars and starches from our food, the odour is worsened from the by-products of this process. Reduced saliva means bacteria are not washed away, and the smell worsens.
To counteract this, increase your daily fluid intake, ideally with water. Carrying water with you to drink ‘little & often’ is a good way of ensuring you take on sufficient water to avoid dehydration, which can lead to low blood pressure causing dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and bad breath. Avoiding drinking too many caffeinated or alcoholic drinks will also help as these make dehydration worse by causing your body to lose more water than you take on.
Low carb diet
To lose weight on a low-carb diet, you put your body into a state of ketosis – this means that your body, starved of its energy source of dietary carbohydrate, starts to break down the fat in your body, which if you are trying to lose weight is the goal. Breaking down the fat produces chemicals called ketone bodies, which make your breath smell fruity or even alcoholic.
To counteract this, do not follow a strict low-carb diet, opt for a healthier way of losing weight, like eating a balanced diet including carbs and exercising.
Dry mouth condition
Dry mouth, or “xerostomia” can occur for many reasons. As the amount/flow of saliva is affected, the mouth is not so well lubricated, more plaque can form and it and its by-products linger in the mouth for longer, causing bad breath, or halitosis as it is known medically.
Several medical conditions such as Sjogrens Syndrome are known to cause dry mouth. So if you are concerned, please speak to your dentist as they may consider referral to a specialist to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. Low saliva levels make you more susceptible to dental decay, so it is vital any underlying cause is diagnosed so the issue can be managed appropriately.
The pill
This is a medication that can reduce the amount of saliva produced, and therefore cause bad breath. This can be managed by stimulating saliva flow by sipping water little and often, chewing sugar-free gum or using artificial saliva sprays. If the problem continues, it may be worth seeing if a different type of pill can be prescribed or alternative contraception used.
You are eating mints to combat it (sugar makes it worse)
If you eat mints containing sugar to make your mouth feel fresher, the bacteria in your mouth will feed off the sugar, creating more plaque and ultimately decay. Decay itself can smell, but if you develop cavities as a result, these can trap food which stagnates and causes its own offensive smell. It would be advisable to ensure any mints/chewing gum is sugar-free – in fact, chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva flow which can help if your mouth is dry.
You have sinus issues
If you suffer from sinus infections, some patients report that the mucus produced can give bad breath. If you are concerned you have sinus issues that do not seem to be resolving on their own, your dentist or doctor can refer you to a specialist to see if anything can be done about this if there is an underlying condition.
Diabetes
Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to your body going into ketosis, caused by the body breaking down fat stores for energy, producing ketone bodies which can cause a fruity/alcoholic smelling breath. If you are not following a low carbohydrate diet and have these symptoms, you may want to see your GP to have your blood sugar levels checked.
Certain medications (dry mouth)
Certain medications on their own or in combination with others can reduce the amount or rate of saliva flow, causing a dry mouth which means plaque stays in the mouth for longer, causing bad breath. If you suspect this is the case, sipping water ‘little and often’, chewing sugar-free gum, or using artificial saliva sprays can help. If it is severe then you may want to discuss your medication with your GP.