What is the Most Common Bad Breath Cause?

For anyone suffering with bad breath, they can find that it affects their personal life as well as their professional life. Most people will not come right up to you and tell you that you have bad breath; they will just talk about you to others behind your back. It can be an embarrassing fact of life when you have bad breath. But what exactly is the cause of bad breath?

Common Causes of Bad Breath

Most people have their worst breath in the morning when they first wake up. You may be okay for a few hours after you brush your teeth but, as the day progresses, the smell of bad breath may come back slowly into your mouth and make others cringe from it.

Sometimes bad breath is caused by the situation. It may be that you notice your breath after you have eaten a meal that is full of additions such as garlic or onions. It could be that your breath smells because of smoke from cigarettes or cigars. Another bad breath cause that is considered situational is alcoholic drinks. 

Some bad breath is occasional. Many people use mints, gums, sprays and other types of breath fresheners to mask the effects of halitosis -- the other name used to describe bad breath. But even when you use breath fresheners, if the underlying bad breath cause is poor dental hygiene or certain foods you have eaten, they won't last very long before the odours return.

Those who suffer bad breath that is chronic usually find they have the worst case of halitosis. Chronic bad breath is characterised by a persistent bad smell that comes from your mouth or nose or both. Many people who suffer with chronic bad breath have excellent oral hygiene and don’t know what to do about their condition. 

The most common bad breath cause is a bacterium that is naturally present in your mouth; it feeds on the food particles left over from the last time you last ate. There are many ways you can counteract these effects. One way is to use a good toothbrush that will get in between your teeth. Many people neglect the backs of their front teeth, as well as their larger back teeth when they are brushing.

You should ensure that you brush your teeth for five minutes or more. Any less than that and you are not reaching all the places in your mouth that will be a bad breath cause. You also need to be aware that all toothpastes and mouthwashes are not created equal. 

Interestingly, some oral hygiene products can make the problem worse. You should use products that have baking soda and peroxide as their main ingredients. These two products can help to fight bad breath and allow you to feel more confident when you are having face to face conversations with work colleagues or someone you want to get to know better.