Why People Have Bad Breath and What Causes It

When the environment they live in changes in some way, these bacteria will react by releasing sulfur compounds, which taste bad and smell the same. Among these sulfur compounds you will find methyl mercaptan (smell like sweaty socks), cadaverine (smells like garbage that is old), putrescine, and sulfide (which is a bit like eggs that have gone rotten).

 

The best way to actually get rid of bad breath is to make sure that the places where these bacteria live aren't friendly to their presence. If they can't live there, the sulfur compounds they usually produce will disappear as well, and you will be able to enjoy food and get rid of the bad breath.

 

This article gives you a few pointers about what can cause bad breath. Taking steps towards eliminating these problems will make sure that you don't have bad breath anymore.

 

A few of the possible causes for halitosis and bad breath are:

• A mouth that is dry

• Saliva that is thick

• Having too much mucus in your throat

• Using a post nasal drip

• Keeping a high protein diet (red meat, dairy, beans and so on)

• Smoking cigarettes

• Alcohol (you might be surprised, but the alcohol from the mouthwash counts as well)

• Changes in your hormones

• Pills that make your mouth dry (high blood pressure medication, anti-depressants, anti-histamines, and so on)

• Having diabetes

• Certain diets, like those based on a lot of proteins or the Atkins diet.

• Using a lot of products for the mouth, which are old fashioned (those that have either Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or alcohol in the mix).

 

You're probably wondering by now why is garlic or onion a cause of bad breath. Well, these two, plus a number of foods that are spicy have certain sulfur compounds in their composition. An example is the mercaptan, which can be unpleasant.