5 Types of Bad Breath and Their Causes
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90% of bad breath comes from proteins broken down in your mouth. When bad breath is caused by oral problems, it generally smells like rotten eggs. This is caused by the breakdown of cysteine at the front of the tongue or on the gums. It’s a sign of poor oral hygiene.
More rarely, dental bad breath can be a fecal odor like odor from the gums or the top of the tongue. This is caused by imbalances within the mouth or from protein breakdown on the gum tissue or tongue.
If you have bad breath, your first step is a dental exam and good oral hygiene. However, the mouth-body connection means that other bad breath smells can tell you about problems elsewhere in your body.
Types of bad breath
If you or your dentist can identify the type of smell in your bad breath, this can help to pinpoint its origin. This oral-systemic link means your dentist may identify potential problems elsewhere in your body – just as an optician can by examining your eyes.
1) Tonsil Breath- Bad Breath reason and you’re Tonsils
Tonsillitis or tonsil stones may be the cause of your bad breath.
Bad breath linked to tonsillitis can happen in acute, chronic and recurrent forms of tonsillitis.
Your tonsils are two small pads of glandular tissue at each side of the back of your throat. They form part of your immune system, making antibodies and white blood cells to attack germs inside your mouth. They are part of your first line of defense against bacteria in food or air.
2) Sinus Breath- Bad Breath Causes and Sinuses
Bad breath can be caused by microbial build, growth or infections your sinuses.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal sinuses. It may be a short-term, acute inflammation caused by an infection. Other times it can be a long-term, chronic condition, complicated by allergies and/or structural problems in the nose. Long-term sinusitis can significantly affect your quality of life.
Nasal sinuses are located within the cheeks, around and behind the nose. They act to warm, moisten and filter the air entering the nasal cavity. They also help us vocalize certain sounds.
3) Lung Breath- Bad Breath Causes and Lung Infection
Lower respiratory tract infections
Bad breath can be caused by lung infections and conditions such as bronchitis, pulmonary abscess, tuberculosis, emphysema, and pneumonia.
Types of lung infections include:
- Bronchitis
- Croup
- Influenza
- Lung cancer usually causes a distinct bad breath, and breath is now being used in early detection.
4) Liver breath- Bad Breath Causes and Liver Disease
Frank liver failure leading to hepatic coma is often signaled by a sweet-smelling, musty odor on the breath as the body tries to excrete by-products of sulfur-containing amino acid breakdown. Cirrhosis may cause a breath odor described as decayed blood or rotten eggs.
5) Drug Breath- Bad Breath Causes and Medication
Many medicines can cause bad breath by drying up your saliva. Seven out of the top ten prescribed medicines list dry mouth as a side effect.
The worst culprits tend to be medicines that treat:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Pain
- Allergies
- Nasal congestion
- Obesity
- Acne
- Epilepsy
- Hypertension
- Urinary incontinence