4 Different Types of Bad Breath

Most people I talk to think bad breath, or halitosis, is a problem of the mouth. While this is routinely the case, bad breath has several different root causes. This article will talk about the 4 types of bad breath: tonsils, lungs, sinuses, and, of course, your mouth. By determining the cause, you can help treat bad breath and get rid of it!

Tonsils
Infections in the tonsils can result in a bad breath condition. Often times, however, we are approached by people concerned about the possibility of tonsil-induced halitosis from tonsil stones or tonsilloliths. These so-called tonsilloliths are a natural secretion from natural crevices or crypts in the tonsils and they are not a stone. They are soft and look much like a cottage cheese curd but they do smell badly. It is easy to see why one might assume these might be related to their halitosis condition.

Everybody who has tonsils will get these and most of the time they are swallowed without realizing it, but hey will not produce a halitosis condition. We have seen over a thousand patients since we have been treating this problem have their tonsils removed because they were convinced that these secretions from the tonsils were the cause of the breath problem. In every single case the secretions were halted because the tonsils were removed but the breath was unchanged in every case.If you have tonsil stones, you can use an oral irrigator to get rid of the problem.

Lungs
Lung problems can induce halitosis in two key ways: disease or oral ingestion. A lung disease or disorder commonly comes with bad breath. Lung cancer, cystic fibrosis and asthma are just a few of the lung problems that may result in bad breath. Diseases that affect the blood will also create a foul odor of the mouth. This makes sense. Consider that anytime you exhale, you are releasing the carbon dioxide carried in your blood. This is why problems of the liver or kidney may also come with bad breath. Unfortunately, halitosis associated with an organ problem only go away when the organ problem goes away, but fortunately these types of conditions are quite rare.

Lung breath that can be controlled is caused by oral ingestion. This includes smoking and eating or drinking certain things. By inhaling tobacco and tar, you are causing “stinky lungs” that don’t go away with a little mouthwash. Alcohol also induces bad breath because consuming it allows alcohol into the blood stream and is released in your breath over time. This is the reason why brushing after a few beers doesn’t get rid of the bad taste or breath. This is the same reasoning for smelly foods like garlic and onions.

Sinus
Sinusitis and post nasal drip can greatly worsen your breath. In both cases, some type of allergic infection or cold induces sinus problems. Sinusitis, or a sinus infection, simply means that your paranasal sinuses are inflamed. Paranasal sinuses are air cavities or spaces connected to your nose. This inflammation disallows mucus to circulate normally causing buildup that attracts bacteria. Post nasal drip occurs when excess mucus leaks in the back of your mouth. Both sinusitis and post nasal drip creates foul smells. We recomend using Nasal irrigators & saline nasal rinse.

Mouth
This type of halitosis has to do with what’s actually going on in your mouth. The cause could be excessive dry mouth, known as xerostomia, poor oral hygiene, drinking coffee or eating smelly foods. The best way to combat mouth-related halitosis is to practice great oral care, visiting the dentist and drinking plenty of water.

About the Author: Dr. Dailley is the founder of The Center for Breath Treatment as well as NovaBay Pharmaceutical. He specializes in curing bad breath and works with patients to remedy their bad breath. Dr. Dailley has a 99% success rate and appointments can be made so you can get rid of bad breath. Dr. Dailley sells a number of bad breath treatment kits and bad breath solutions.