If you’re wondering, “do braces cause bad breath,” we’re here to explain. Patients who wear fixed orthodontic appliances, such as braces, are at risk of developing bad breath due to the buildup of food particles on the teeth and poor dental hygiene. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent unpleasant mouth odors. Crooked teeth can cause bad breath as well—as it is more difficult to clean between the teeth. Alternatively, removable orthodontic appliances, such as aligners, may be a better option since they are easier to clean as they can be removed from the mouth.
Your tonsils have a very important role. They’re supposed to trap bacteria and debris that would otherwise go into your lungs or stomach. Unfortunately, sometimes they accumulate too much, creating balls of bacterial residue called tonsil stones. These can smell very bad and contribute to bad breath.

Recognizing halitosis itself is not difficult, because this affliction gives us symptoms in the form of an unpleasant odor released from the mouth. So, in order to determine whether you suffer from halitosis, it is enough to perform the so-called “smell test”. This can be done, for example, by inhaling the smell of the toothbrush we use to brush our teeth, or by touching the back of our tongue with our fingers and then checking their smell.
Now, what if the unfortunate happens? Or maybe you already have been dealing with these rocks filled with noxious gas. No matter how hard and precise you have been brushing your teeth, it seems like your breath just never gets better. You scrub your tongue relentlessly to no avail. The tonsil stones are the reason your breath still continues to be funky. There are many ways to go about removing them and returning your breath back to normal.