Halitosis, or bad breath, can be embarrassing when interacting with many people daily. Also, if your breath remains bad, you might invite various bacteria to colonize your mouth and cause further oral diseases. So, it is always safe if you regularly visit your dentist and follow the doctor’s advice. If you think brushing your teeth aggressively for a week will help you get rid of your bad breath, you are partially wrong. This is because a variety of reasons cause halitosis, and you cannot cure it unless you find the underlying reason. And if you live in Massachusetts and want the best dental care in Brookline, you are in luck!

Reasons you might have bad breath

Several reasons cause halitosis, and you might be surprised when you get to know the reason. It is no shock that most people today have bad breath, and if you are one of them, just go through this list to diagnose yourself!

• Foods like onion and garlic

Onions and garlic are rich in sulfur, which is responsible for producing chemical compounds that have a peculiar smell, thus making your breath smell bad. After digestion, they enter your blood and are carried to your respiratory system, thus contributing to halitosis. Also, if you consume only proteins instead of carbohydrate-rich foods, the ketones created cause bad breath.

• Taking medications

Most medicines today hinder the flow of saliva in your mouth. Saliva, as you know, is fluid and helps wash away any food particles or bacteria in your mouth. Thus preventing the growth of bacteria in your mouth that are responsible for bad breath. As you know, taking medications every day is not your fault. You can prevent halitosis by drinking lots of water and chewing sugar-free gum, thus preventing your mouth from drying.

• Use of tobacco and/or smoking

This might shock you, but you likely have bad breath if you consume tobacco daily or frequently. They not only cause bad breath but also stain your teeth. They are known carcinogens that can cause oral cancer if you do not limit their use. They are also known to cause periodontitis in some cases, contributing to bad breath.

• Medical conditions

You must have encountered people with bad breath for a long time. It is probably because they have certain chronic illnesses like damaged livers or kidneys or, in some cases, cancer as well. These conditions lead to the production of chemical products that cause stinky breath or halitosis.