Bad breath can generally be traced back to bacteria in the mouth. Bad breath (commonly known as halitosis), although it can seem complicated at times, is simply breath that contains an unpleasant smell. This odor can occur periodically or be constant, depending on the cause. For many people, the millions of bacteria that reside in the mouth are the primary cause of bad breath. The mouth is a warm, moist place which is an ideal environment for bad breath bacteria to grow. About 80 percent of bad breath is commonly caused by bacteria in the mouth.

One type of bad breath, “morning mouth,” is considered fairly normal. It is usually not a health concern. The “morning mouth” kind of bad breath happens because the saliva that usually washes away decaying food and odors throughout the daytime decreases during sleep. A person’s mouth becomes dry, and so the dead cells stick to the tongue and inside their cheeks. Bad breath occurs when the bacteria use these cells for their own consumption and expel compounds containing an unpleasant smell.

Bad breath can also be caused by the following:

* Inadequate dental hygiene: not brushing daily or improper brushing and flossing can leave food debris to decay within the mouth

* Various infections in the mouth: gum disease

* Respiratory tract infections: sinus, throat and lung infections can all contribute to bacterial causes of bad breath

Someone with bad breath may not always know they suffer from it. The reason for this is that the odor detecting cells in a person’s nose can eventually become used to the constant flow of the bad odor originating from the mouth. Others around this person may notice perfectly well, however, and react by moving away as the person speaks.

Many symptoms of bad breath stem from the underlying causes. Poor dental hygiene leaves the teeth coated with film or plaque and can make the gums swollen or pale in color. If there’s an infection in the mouth, the gums may be red or swollen. Open sores or a pocket of pus (abscess) will also cause a person to have bad breath. Sometimes bacteria from a sore throat or a stuffy nose can cause a bad odor. Other bacterial causes of bad breath can be traced to swollen lymph nodes, fever, or a mucus-filled cough.

Systemic illnesses such as diabetes, lung disease, kidney problems or liver complications can also contribute to bad breath.

The best treatment for bad breath is to determine its cause. Call a dentist right away if the bad breath is associated with painful, swollen gums that may bleed easily and frequently. Once the bad breath bacterial cause has been diagnosed, the treatment for fresh breath is usually long lasting.