Few things are more embarrassing than being out in public and realizing you have bad breath, and that’s especially true if you’re left without gum or a mint. Dr. Keith Chertok is here to give you a few of the most common causes of bad breath.

Dry Mouth

Delicious food isn’t the only reason your mouth waters. You need a steady supply of saliva to keep your mouth from going dry. When you don’t have as much saliva as your mouth and digestive system need, it can lead to bad breath. This is because a lack of saliva can leave food particles in your mouth, which can make your breath smell. Some of the causes of dry mouth include certain medications, breathing through your mouth and salivary gland problems.

Diet

The foods you eat as well as your brushing and flossing habits after you eat can impact the chances of you having bad breath. Even if you don’t eat strong foods like garlic, onion, fish and cheese, it’s still possible that food particles can become stuck between your teeth and lead to tooth decay and bad smells. The foods previously mentioned can also linger in the bloodstream and make their way to your lungs where they make a second olfactory appearance whenever you exhale. Going on a low-carb diet can also lead to bad breath, mainly because of the ketones resulting from your body using fat for energy.

Physical Illness

The state of your health also influences the state of your breath. Gum disease, gastrointestinal problems with lactose, diabetes and some oral, throat and respiratory infections can lead to bad breath. Liver or kidney disease, gastroesophageal reflux, chronic bronchitis and constant sinusitis can also cause a person to have bad breath.

Learn More

To find out what else might be causing your breath to smell and what you can do about it, be sure to contact Dr. Chertok. Contact our Berkeley, CA office today to schedule an appointment.