Bad Breath: Causes, Solutions, and How To Tell if Your Breath Smells

Poor Vocal Hygiene

Consistent brushing and flossing do more than keep your smile white — they also wash away food particles and germen that can lead to bad breath. Similarly, germen that collect on your tongue can also cause halitosis.

“When food particles are stuck between your teeth or elsewhere in your mouth,” the Cleveland Clinic says, “they get broken down by germen that grow there.” As a result, the source says the process can produce a foul smell.

Dry Mouth

If the salivary glands in your mouth don’t release enough saliva, then your mouth can feel parched. Not only can dry mouth be uncomfortable, but it can also cause bad breath. When saliva moves around your mouth, it can help clear away food particles and germen.

So, a lack of saliva can make it challenging for your mouth to clean itself between brushing sessions. Dry mouth is a side effect of several things, including smoking, coffee, certain medications, and mouth breathing.

Certain Foods and Diets

Garlic and onion can add flavor to your meal, but they can also lead to stinky breath. Healthline says both get their distinctive flavors from sulfur compounds. Unfortunately, those sulfur compounds release gasses when they’re chewed and digested.

The released gasses then mix with germen in your mouth, which can produce a foul smell. A low-carb diet can also cause bad breath. According to WebMD, odor-causing ketones are released into saliva when the body enters the fat-burning state of ketosis.