What Causes Bad Breath?
Here are three common causes of bad breath:
- foods and drinks, such as garlic, onions, cheese, orange juice, and soda
- poor dental hygiene (say: HI-jeen), meaning not brushing and
flossing regularly
- smoking and other tobacco use
Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath because when food particles are left in your
mouth, they can rot and start to smell. The food bits may begin to collect bacteria,
which can be smelly, too.
Not brushing your teeth regularly will let plaque (a sticky, colorless film) build
up on your teeth. Plaque is a great place for bacteria to live and yet another reason
why breath can turn foul.
Preventing Smelly Breath
So what's a kid to do? Don't smoke or use tobacco products, of course. And take
care of your mouth by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a
day. Brush your tongue,
too, because bacteria can grow there. Flossing once a day helps get rid of particles
wedged between your teeth. Also, visit your dentist twice a year for regular checkups
and cleanings.
Not only will you get a thorough cleaning, the dentist will look around your mouth
for any potential problems, including those that can affect breath. For example, gum
disease, also known as periodontal (say: per-ee-uh-DON-tul) disease,
can cause bad breath and damage your teeth.
If you're concerned about bad breath, tell your doctor or dentist. But don't be
surprised if he or she leans in and take a big whiff! Smell is one way doctors and
dentists can help figure out what's causing the problem. The way a person's breath
smells can be a clue to what's wrong. For instance, if someone has uncontrolled diabetes, his
or her breath might smell like acetone (the same stuff that's in nail polish remover).
If you have bad breath all the time and the reason can't be determined by your
dentist, he or she may refer you to a doctor to make sure no other medical condition
could be causing it. Sometimes sinus
problems, and rarely liver or kidney
problems, can cause bad breath.
Usually, there's a less complicated reason for bad breath — like what you
had for lunch. So keep up with your brushing and flossing and you should be breathing
easy — and odor free!