CAUSES OF BAD BREATH

CAUSES OF BAD BREATH 

* DIRTY TONGUE: Bacteria on the tongue is a leading cause of bad breath; clean your tongue regularly with your toothbrush or preferably a tongue scraper.

* LOW-CARB DIET: Lack of adequate carbohydrates and protein makes the body start burning fat for energy; this process makes compounds called ketones, which cause bad breath.

* COMMON COLD: Respiratory tract infections like colds and bronchitis can also give you bad breath because odor-causing bacteria like to feed on mucus; if you have a stuffy nose, you’re more likely to resort to mouth-breathing, which can dry out your mouth.

* NIGHT OUTS: A night out or beer binge could give you more than a hangover. Even though it’s a liquid, alcohol can actually dry out your mouth which encourages the bacteria that cause halitosis, the medical term for bad breath. 

* ULCER: A type of bacteria that causes ulcers, helicobacter pylori, can trigger bad breath.

* MEDICATIONS: More than 400 prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including antidepressants and allergy remedies, can stifle saliva flow. 

* TONSIL STONES: The small whitish clusters made up of hardened bacteria, food particles, dead cells, and mucus that get trapped in the ridges of your tonsils and the back of the tongue are generally harmless except for the smell. 

* ACID REFLUX OR HEARTBURN: Bad breath may be from some undigested food coming back up; it could be that irritation from stomach acid is giving you postnasal drip.