Bad breath is a common problem for many adults and could be triggered by a number of causes. It can result from bad habits, like smoking and drinking or it can be provoked by eating specific foods. In some cases, it can also signify a deeper oral or general health issue.

Therefore, if you’re confident about you oral hygiene (which is the most common cause of bad breath), you should consult your Burien dentist or physician to find what’s triggering your bad breath.

Here are the 7 most common causes of bad breath:

1. General Oral Health

One of the most common reasons for bad breath is poor oral hygiene. If you are not very diligent with cleaning your teeth and gums regularly, food particles may remain in your mouth, forming bacteria and building up plaque on your teeth. All of these ca result in bad breath. Poor oral hygiene can further cause other oral health conditions, including cavities and gum disease, which can also lead to bad breath. Maintaining a perfect oral care routine is the best prevention technique for avoiding bad breath.

1. Smoking

Bad habits, like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption can lead to bad breath.

Apart from unpleasant breath, smoking can also lead to much more serious oral and general health issues. Tobacco products damage your gums and can cause gum disease.

1. Alcohol

Another bad habit, excessive alcohol consumption, causes a decrease in saliva production, which is the best environment for odor-causing bacteria to flourish and give you bad breath.

1. Coffee

If you’re a big fan of coffee in the morning and throughout the day, you may have noticed that it can leave you with unpleasant breath. Coffee can be a cause of bad breath due to its intense flavor as well as the effect it has on saliva production. After drinking coffee, the caffeine leads to a decline in saliva production. Less saliva means an increase in odor-causing bacteria. Thus, should you be a coffee fan, don’t forget to rinse your mouth after consumption and combine your favorite drink with plenty of water.

1. Poor Diet

High in sugar diets can result in bad breath, due to sugars interacting with the existing bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria that naturally exist in your mouth feed on sugars turning sweet delights into unpleasant odors.

On the other hand, low-carbohydrate eating programs, high in protein, can also result in bad breath. High-protein foods are sometimes difficult for your body to digest and tend to release unpleasant -odor, sulfurous gases when they don’t metabolize.

Therefore, try to maintain a more balanced and nutritious diet, rich in fresh vegetables and herbs.

1. Medications

Certain medications, especially prescription ones have the side effect of a dry mouth, also resulting in bad breath. When saliva production in your mouth decreases, this encourages the development of odor-causing bacteria. Any extended period of time with dry mouth can lead to bad breath.

1. Digestive Issues

Digestive problems, like constipation, GERD or bowel disorders can lead to bad breath. Should you have issue with any any of those, consult your Burien physician to find out how to deal with them and consequently, improve your breath.

In case you experience bad breath and you’re puzzled about what could be the potential cause, don’t hesitate to consult your Burien dentist and address the problem in the best possible way.