Bad breath not always due dental or oral complaints; Dentist explains

Regardless of how winsome someone's personality is, if their speech is followed by an unpleasant odour from their mouth, it can totally ruin the impression. Bad breath, or halitosis, happens when bacteria break down food, proteins and mucus and release foul-smelling gases as part of the process. While most bad breath problems originate in the mouth, due to inadequate brushing, tongue cleaning or other oral hygiene practices, it can also be a result of other bodily issues. Dr Theertha Hemant of Theertha's Tooth Affair, Ettumanoor, Kottayam, explains the reasons in detail.

Bad breath from the mouth
According to Dr Theertha, the following issues in the mouth can be reasons for bad breath:
a) Sedimentation on tongue
b) Cavities in teeth
c) Food residue deposits in teeth
d) Gum diseases
e) Dry mouth due to lack of enough saliva
f) Dehydration

Bad breath due to other issues
Extra-oral halitosis, or halitosis that doesn't originate in the mouth, can have a number of reasons. According to Dr Theertha, they are:
a) Throat infection
b) Nasal congestion
c) Sinusitis
d) Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD
e) Medications
f) Liver and kidney diseases
g) Diabetes

What's the treatment
According to the dentist, it is better to consult a doctor first to assess the right reason before taking any medication to solve halitosis. Moreover, ensure that an oral checkup is done every six months. Even when we brush every day, it might not reach every part of the mouth or the teeth properly enough to clean the debris, plaque or dead tissue cells. This is especially true in the case of crevices between teeth and gums, insides of the cheeks and sides of the mouth. During the checkup, dentists can clean this up, check for potential gum issues or cavities, and look for oral cancer or other disease markers.