Is Your Bad Breath Caused by Something More Than Bad Hygiene?
Bad breath is definitely common, but if brushing and flossing, mouth washes and mints don’t make a dent in your stinky breath, this problem shouldn’t be shrugged off. Sometimes having bad breath can be a symptom of an underlying disease. These are cases can be totally frustrated by being unable to get rid of their bad breath even though they have tried everything there is to clean their mouth.
But what if the problem is not found inside your mouth? Bad breath can also be caused by different diseases. In infants, infections of the nose and throat can cause smelly breath. Adults can have infections of the sinuses, nose, and throat, too. Bronchitis and pneumonia are diseases that create bad breath.
Some people who have problems with their gastrointestinal system and their digestion can have bad breath, although the odor that results doesn’t, as many people believe, come from their stomach. Diabetes has bad breath as one of its symptoms. Gall bladder diseases and kidney and liver problems are other examples. But having bad breath alone shouldn’t worry you. There should also be other symptoms that manifest before you suspect that you have some sort of disease causing your bad breath.
One condition found in the mouth that causes bad breath is periodontal disease. Here the gums weaken and create inflammations and places where food particles and anaerobic bacteria can accumulate. These food particles may rot later on, producing a bad smell. Bacteria living in the mouth can feast on these food particles and inflammations, creating smelly sulfur compounds in the process.
Your bad breath may not be anything serious, but then again it might be. If you have exhausted all means to remedy bad breath, check with your dentist. If he cannot find a solution to your problem, then check with your doctor.
