Is Bad Breath a Sign of Illness?
Bad breath, or halitosis, affects millions of people. It’s normal for a person’s breath to smell after they’ve eaten something pungent, but halitosis that doesn’t go away after brushing and flossing could be a sign of a deeper concern that requires medical attention. Some of these medical concerns are related to oral health, like periodontitis, tooth decay, abscesses, and oral infections, while others affect the throat, the respiratory tract, the intestinal tract, and, ultimately, all of the systems of the body. The oral health conditions that can cause bad breath are best treated by dental specialists, including general dentists and periodontists, while the overall health connections related to bad breath require specialized medical attention.
What Are The Oral Health Concerns that Cause Bad Breath?
Bacteria that live in the mouth are fed by residue from what we eat and drink. As they proliferate, they release foul-smelling sulfuric gases. In the warm, moist environment that is the human mouth, they thrive until we brush and floss away the dental plaque they call home. When we don’t brush and floss them away, however, they lead to periodontal disease, infecting and slowly destroying the oral tissues as plaque accumulates. As these tissues rot and decay, they release a foul odor. Decaying teeth often harbor infection, which releases strong-smelling pus as it seethes. Other oral sores or infections, like wounds in the mouth or oral thrush, can make the breath smell unpleasant.
What Systemic Conditions Cause Halitosis?
If it seems like halitosis is coming from deeper in the body, it could be. Some halitosis comes from the respiratory system, while other smells emanate from the digestive system; any system that meets its end at the mouth could be the source of bad breath. When calcified debris gets trapped in the tonsils at the back of the throat, it smells bad. These “tonsil stones” aren’t usually considered dangerous, but they’re difficult to detect without a medical examination. The respiratory system, which includes the sinuses in the face and extends down to the bronchia and lungs, can cause bad breath when it is infected, inflamed, and full of thick, smelly mucus. When stomach acid bubbles into the esophagus, in a condition known as GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, it feels like heartburn or indigestion and can make the breath smell sour, like bile.
Unmanaged diabetes can cause the breath to smell especially sweet or fruity; this can be a serious medical emergency for diabetics. As toxins accumulate in the body when the liver or kidneys are diseased, these toxins can generate a particular odor, which may smell like ammonia, urine, or another distinctive scent. Certain rare genetic disorders might also cause the breath to smell peculiar. If you have bad breath that continues for a couple of weeks, despite your thorough brushing and flossing, consult with your dentist. They may refer you to a dental specialist or to your primary care provider, who will want to review any other symptoms you may have had. Because the causes of bad breath range so widely, from fresh garlic to diseased kidneys, make sure you see your dentist regularly. They’ve seen – or smelled – enough people to know when it’s time to see an expert, and when it’s simply time to drink some water and brush your teeth.