Bad Breath – Not Just in Your Mouth

Most people assume that bad breath comes directly out of your mouth, and seeing as the mouth is a hotbed of bacteria, most people are safe to assume this. However, 90% of real halitosis cases (bad breath) are caused by some sort of malignancy in the mouth. This can come be in the form of a rotting tooth or gum disease.

If you have a healthy gums and teeth, it is very likely that you do not have bad breath. If you still believe you have bad breath but no one agrees with you, you either have some overly polite friends, or are suffering from what is known as halitophobia – an illogical fear that you have bad breath, even though you don’t.

If your dentist tells you that you have healthy gums and teeth, but your friends keep buying you packs of gum and mouthwash, then the source of your toxic breath may be lurking somewhere else inside of you.

Most people would hazard a guess that the smell is coming from your mouth. However, there are a few other causes of bad breath that you may not know about. For example, did you know that bad breath can result from infections or a buildup of bacteria in the inner sinuses? Other sources include your throat, nasal cavity, lungs and even your stomach. In rare cases, foul breath can result from diseases like liver failure and diabetes.

If you are afraid that you have bad breath, but your dentist can discern any cause, you might want to seek extended medical advice, as it could be a symptom of something else going on in your body.