7 unexpected causes that can cause bad breath

Almost everyone has bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth from time to time. But the cause of this is not always known.

We all know that garlic, onion and coffee give you a bad breath. But there are also a lot of other, unexpected things that keep you from smelling as fresh from your mouth as you would like. We looked up the most important ones for you:

1. Poor oral health

One of the main reasons your breath smells bad is poor oral hygiene. This is because undigested food particles will stick to your teeth. These are eventually broken down by mouth bacteria and that causes an unpleasant smell. Lifestyle changes such as brushing your teeth and tongue twice a day, flossing daily, and drinking plenty of water are therefore the best first steps to fresh breath.

2. Bad hydration = bad breath

Saliva is important for breaking down food particles, but also for keeping your teeth clean . When you drink too little water, your saliva production decreases drastically. The plaque that lingers in your mouth during this dryness contributes to bad breath.

3. Diet or irregular eating pattern

Not only certain foods cause bad breath, but eating too little or a certain type of diet can also cause a bad smell. By limiting carbohydrates, such as with the keto diet, a process called ketosis occurs in the body. The body then uses fatty acids to supply ketones to the blood. In this way, body fat burns faster. During this process, however, the body also produces acetone, which causes stale breathing. But skipping a meal can also cause bad breath. Missed meals cause the salivary glands to go to sleep and not release as much saliva, which leads to dry mouth and bad breath.

4. Medication

Antidepressants, cholesterol and diabetes medications are some of the many types of medications that can cause dry mouth. When using this medication, it is therefore extra important to keep drinking enough to keep your oral health and breath fresh.

5. Digestive Disorder

A digestive disorder, such as heartburn, can cause the mouth to become dry and bacteria to multiply. When you suffer a lot from such complaints, it is first of all important that you find the underlying cause. Are there certain types of foods that cause complaints? In addition, gargling with a mouthwash, without alcohol, can help relieve the odor.

6. Diabetes

One of the nasty side effects of diabetes is dry mouth, the ultimate breeding ground for the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. In addition, fluctuating blood sugar levels can contribute to gum disease. However, the complaints diminish when the disease is controlled with the help of medication.

7. Lactose intolerance

With lactose intolerance, you may think of abdominal pain, diarrhea or bloating. But bad breath also turns out to be caused by intolerance to those milk sugars. When you are lactose intolerant, you don’t produce enough lactase, an enzyme that can break down lactose.

As a result, lactose ends up in your gastrointestinal tract instead of in your blood, where it will ferment by the intestinal bacteria. These create gases, which you then exhale and create a nasty smell. Do you think lactose is the culprit for you? Then go to the doctor. He or she can investigate the intolerance [1] and, if necessary, help you with dietary adjustments.