Bad Breath Treatment | What Causes It?

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a common concern that can create discomfort in both personal and professional settings. At Smile Dentistry, we understand how frustrating and sometimes embarrassing bad breath can be. While many people turn to mouthwash, gum, or mints for a quick fix, these solutions only mask the odor temporarily. To truly treat bad breath, it is important to identify and address its root cause. In many cases, consistent oral hygiene can help improve breath. However, if the problem persists, it may be a sign of an underlying dental or health issue. Our dental team is here to help you determine the source and offer long-lasting solutions for fresher breath and improved oral health.

Bad breath odors vary depending on the source or the underlying cause. While most patients tend to only have a mild case of bad breath that can be fixed with a proper oral care regimen at home, there are cases which require a dental professional to intervene. While it is important to check all concerns with our office, just to be safe, here are the main causes of bad breath:


  • Food | Foods like onions, garlic, and spices contribute to bad breath. Once digested, these foods enter your bloodstream and affect the air you exhale. Additionally, food particles left behind in your mouth can promote bacterial growth and odor.
  • Tobacco | Smoking causes its own unpleasant mouth odor. Smokers and oral tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease, another source of bad breath.
  • Dental Hygiene | Inadequate brushing allows food particles to remain in your mouth, which leads to plaque buildup. Plaque can irritate the gums and cause periodontitis. Bacteria on your tongue and poorly cleaned dentures can also contribute to bad breath.
  • Dry Mouth | Saliva naturally cleans your mouth. When saliva production decreases, as in dry mouth, odor-causing particles are not removed as effectively. Dry mouth can be caused by sleeping with your mouth open, certain medications, or medical conditions.
  • Medications | Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth, while others are broken down in our body to release chemicals that are carried on our breath.
  • Infections | Bad breath can be caused by surgical wounds after oral surgery, such as a tooth removal, or because of tooth decay, gum disease, or mouth sores.
  • Mouth, Nose, and Throat Conditions | Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones that form in our tonsils and are covered with bacteria, as well as from infections or chronic inflammation in our nose, sinuses, or throat.
  • Other Causes | Diseases, such as some cancers, and conditions such as metabolic disorders, can cause a distinctive odor because of chemicals they produce. Chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) is also associated with bad breath.


Some patients worry about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odor, while others have bad breath and do not realize it. Because it is difficult to assess how your own breath smells, ask a close friend or relative to confirm if you suspect you may have bad breath. If you have bad breath, review your oral hygiene habits. Try making lifestyle changes, such as brushing your teeth and tongue after eating, using dental floss, and drinking plenty of water. If your bad breath persists, call our office.