Even with all of these causes of bad breath, most bad breath is due to a simple problem: poor oral hygiene. If you keep your teeth and mouth clean, food particles can stay in your mouth and allow a sticky buildup of bacteria known as plaque to form on your teeth. The uneven surfaces on your tongue and tonsils are especially good at trapping food and bacteria that can cause bad breath.
The tonsils are lymph nodes located at the back of the throat. Tonsil stones (also called tonsilloliths or tonsil calculi) are small clusters of calcifications or stones that form in the craters (crypts) of the tonsils. Tonsil stones are hard and appear as white or yellowish formations on the tonsils. They usually smell bad (and make your breath smell bad) due to bacteria.
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Bad breath can be a side effect of diabetes. Because the body might have a hard time processing sugars for energy, the body can try to break down more fats, which leads to the production of ketones. The smell is similar to eating a low-carb diet, but unlike a low carb diet, diabetes is likely to lead to a toxic buildup of ketones if not properly treated.
If you don't brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath. Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) from poor dental hygiene can also cause bad breath.
Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You can take steps to prevent and treat halitosis, at home and with the help of your dentist or doctor.
The Connection between Smoking and Bad Breath from the Throat
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Bad breath can be caused by many things, including certain foods, poor oral care, and smoking.
Poor dental hygiene, chronic sinus issues, inflamed tonsillitis, and large tonsils may contribute to a build-up of this hardened material.
Postnasal drip is the secretion of mucus from the nose and throat. This mucus is full of bacteria and easily breeds more, which can cause infection and bad breath. Additionally, dairy products can increase mucus production, making it thicker and worsening post-nasal drip or congestion.
Basically, all the food eaten begins to be broken down in your mouth. Also, foods are absorbed into your bloodstream and move to the lungs, affecting the air you exhale. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing – even mouthwash – merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body. Other common foods that can cause bad breath include:
The most common cause of chronic severe bad breath is a dental infection. We do not mean a simple overgrowth of oral bacteria due to a buildup of plaque. That is what we discussed in the previous section. We mean an active dental disease, like decay (cavities) or gum disease.
Smoking is a bad habit any way you slice it, but one thing it’s fairly well known for is causing halitosis, or “smoker’s breath.” Smoke particles can linger in the throat and lungs for hours, giving your breath a stale scent. The chemicals in tobacco smoke also remain in the mouth, leading to a whole host of secondary causes of bad breath. As mentioned briefly above, tobacco can lead to chronic bad breath by drying out the tongue and gums, leaving a chemical-filmed environment where oral bacteria can run amok. Giving up smoking is good for your body in many ways. Forget better breath – you’ll have a better quality of life!
Certain foods and drinks can also contribute to bad breath. Foods like garlic and onions contain volatile compounds that are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs, where they are exhaled. Similarly, drinks like coffee and alcohol can leave a lingering odor in the mouth.
Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, can contribute to bad breath from the throat. Saliva plays a crucial role in washing away food particles and bacteria in the mouth and throat. When there is a lack of saliva production, bacteria can thrive and cause bad breath.
The buildup of bacteria that causes a cavity can cause bad breath, as well as untreated cavities and further decay can produce a foul-smelling odour.