Everyone experiences bad breath, or halitosis, at one time or another. It can be embarrassing, but also concerning. Thoroughly cleaning your teeth, mouth, and tongue will usually alleviate bad breath. Brushing your tongue after brushing your teeth is an effective addition to your daily dental routine.
But if you are regularly brushing, flossing, cleaning your tongue, and using mouthwash, and you still have bad breath, you could have a more serious medical problem beyond dental issues. See your dentist or doctor. Bad breath can be caused by tooth decay, infections in your mouth, nose, sinuses, or throat; some medications; and even cancer or diabetes.
Short-Term Bad Breath Conditions
Besides poor oral hygiene and gum disease, the following short-term health conditions can be common causes of bad breath:
- Sinus and Respiratory Infections. The common cold, strep throat, bronchitis, and other respiratory infections occur when bacteria move from your nose into your throat, which can cause bad breath. Such conditions are treated with over-the-counter products or antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.
- If you experience prolonged vomiting, which can lead to dehydration, you may also have bad breath due to dry mouth. Your saliva helps clean your mouth and reduce bad breath odor, but if you are dehydrated, your mouth may not produce enough saliva. Most cases of vomiting pass naturally, while advanced cases are treated medically.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when acid from your stomach flows backward into your esophagus. This can cause bad breath from partial regurgitation of foods or liquids. GERD is treated with over-the-counter antacids or medications prescribed by your doctor.
Severe Bad Breath Health Conditions
The following severe health conditions include extremely foul-smelling bad breath and require that you seek immediate medical attention:
- Bowel Obstruction. A blockage in your intestines can cause extremely foul-smelling breath. Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing symptoms of bowel obstruction, including but not limited to constipation; severe abdominal pain, cramps, or bloating; or nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Occurring most often in people with Type 1 diabetes, ketoacidosis is a severe condition that requires immediate medical attention. The body produces a high level of acids in the blood called ketones. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, extremely foul-smelling bad breath, extreme thirst, frequent urination, nausea or vomiting, and abdominal pain.
- Liver Failure. Chronic or acute liver failure can happen suddenly and requires immediate medical attention. It can also cause extremely foul-smelling bad breath due to diarrhea and dehydration. Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing symptoms of liver failure, including but not limited to nausea, diarrhea, jaundice, or easy bruising or bleeding.
Seek Immediate Help if you have Bad Breath from a Serious Issue
Beyond dental issues, most causes of bad breath are likely to be more serious and require immediate medical attention. For example, bowel obstruction occurs when a blockage forms in either your large or small intestine, causing extremely foul-smelling bad breath. Ketoacidosis, a severe complication in people who have Type 1 diabetes, can cause foul-smelling breath or fruity-smelling breath due to dry mouth or prolonged vomiting that often is part of the condition. Liver failure can also cause extremely foul-smelling breath due to diarrhea and dehydration.
For short-term conditions, including poor oral hygiene, vomiting, sinus infection, or GERD, common treatments usually resolve bad breath within two weeks. Severe cases such as bowel obstruction, ketoacidosis, or liver failure can be fatal. Immediate care is vital.