Other causes of halitosis

It is believed that in 80-90% of cases halitosis origins in the oral cavity and the most common
causes are: gingival pathologies, caries and poor oral hygiene ,on the other hand . Extraoral
sources of halitosis are responsible for 10-20% of all cases and are caused by poor diet, alcohol
abuse, tobacco smoking, certain drugs and diseases of other parts of digestive tract as well as
some systemic conditions
disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip,
chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If your dentist
determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist
to determine the cause of bad breath.
Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva
decreases ,As a result any medication that causes a dry mouth or nose is more likely to cause
bad breath, examples include antihistamines and drugs for treating sinus problems.
Smoking - smoking does not cause bad breath just because of the unpleasant smell of smoke
that has been in the mouth and the respiratory tract. Smokers are more likely to suffer from
gum disease and other dental problems which cause bad breath. A significantly lower
percentage of non-smokers have bad breath compared to smokers.
Illnesses, conditions and situations - experts say that about one tenth of all cases of halitosis are
caused by an illness or medical condition. Examples include:
1.Tonsillitis
2.Other throat infections
3.Diabetes - uncontrolled diabetes may produce a fruity breath.
4.Bronchitis and chronic lung infections, including lung abscesses
5.Sinusitis - nasal discharge can get to the back of the throat and make the mouth smelly.
6.Gastritis
7.Acid reflux (GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease).
8.Very low carbohydrate diets
9.Liver problems - liver failure may produce a fishy breath.
10.Kidney problems - kidney failure can produce a urine-like odor.
11.Some cancers.