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. Having reduced saliva means that this is not washed away, and the smell worsens.
To counteract this, ensure you increase your fluid intake each day, with ideally water. Carrying water with you to drink little and often is a good way of ensuring you take on sufficient water to avoid dehydration, which can also cause low blood pressure causing dizziness, fatigue and head aches, as well as bad breath. Avoiding drinking too many caffeinated or alcoholic drinks will also help as these actually make dehydration worse byt causing your body to lose more water than you take on.
Low carb diet
In order 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 obviously the goal. Breaking down the fat produces chemicals called ketone bodies, and can make your breath smell fruity or even alcoholic as a result.
To counteract this, do not follow a strict low carb diet, opting instead for a healthier way of losing weight, eating a balanced diet including carbs and exercising.
Dry mouth condition
Dry mouth, or “xerostomia” can occur for all sorts of reasons. As the amount and/or 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.
There are several medical conditions (such as Sjogrens Syndrome) that are known to cause dry mouth, so if you are concerned do 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 potentially reduce the amount of saliva produced and therefore cause bad breath. This can be managed by trying to stimulate 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 are eating 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 and can actually really help if your mouth is dry.
You have sinus issues
If you suffer with 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 have this symptom and are not following a low carbohydrate diet, 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 really severe then you may want to discuss your medication with your GP.