Causes of bad breath

1.poor oral hygiene- the most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. Bacteria that
build up on your teeth particularly between them as well as your tongue and gums, can pr
oduce unpleasant-smelling gases. These bacteria are also responsible for gum disease and toot
h decay.
If you don't floss and brush your teeth regularly, any food trapped between your teeth will be
broken down by the bacteria and may be responsible for bad breath.
2.Food and drink
Eating strongly flavoured foods, such as garlic, onions and spices, is likely to make your breat
h smell. Strong-smelling drinks, such as coffee and alcohol, can also cause bad breath.
Bad breath caused by food and drink is usually temporary. It can be avoided by not eating or d
rinking these types of food and drink too often. Good dental hygiene will also help.

Food: Food is a primary source of bad odors that come from the mouth. Some
foods, such as garlic, onions, spicy foods, exotic spices (such as curry), some
cheeses, fish, and acidic beverages such as coffee can leave a lingering
smell. Most of the time the odor is short lived. Other foods may get stuck in
the teeth, promoting the growth of bacteria, which causes bad breath odor. m

3.Smoking
Smoking is another cause of bad breath. As well as making your breath smell, smoking stains
your teeth, irritates your gums, and reduces your sense of taste.
It can also significantly affect the development of gum disease, another major cause of bad br
eath. Stopping smoking will lower your risk of gum disease and help prevent bad breath.
4.Crash dieting
Crash dieting, fasting, and low-carbohydrate diets are another possible cause of bad breath. T
hey cause the body to break down fat, which produces chemicals called ketones that can be s
melled on your breath.
5.Medication
Some types of medication can also cause bad breath. These include:
nitrates these are sometimes used to treat angina, chest pain caused by a restriction in the bl
ood supply to the heart
some chemotherapy medication
tranquillisers (phenothiazines)
If the medication you're taking is causing bad breath, your GP may be able to recommend an a
lternative.
6.Medical conditions
In rare cases, bad breath can be caused by certain medical conditions. In dry mouth (xerostom
ia), the flow and composition of saliva may be affected.
A lack of saliva can cause more bacteria than normal to build up in your mouth, as well as a c
hange in thcie types of bacteria. A build-up of these in the mouth may lead to bad breath.
Dry mouth can sometimes be caused by a problem in the salivary glands or by breathing throu
gh your mouth instead of your nose.
In some cases, gastrointestinal conditions can also cause bad breath. For example, a bacterial i
nfection of the stomach lining and small intestine (H. pylori infection) and gastro-oesophagea
l reflux disease (GORD) have been linked to bad breath.
If a gastrointestinal condition is thought to be causing your bad breath, you may need to have
an endoscopy. This is a procedure where a piece of equipment called an endoscope is used to
examine an area inside the body, such as your airways or abdomen.
Other medical conditions that can cause bad breath include diabetes and lung, throat, or nose i
nfections for example, bronchiectasis, bronchitis, tonsillitis, and sinusitis.
7. Mouth infections: Cavities, gum disease, or impacted teeth may cause bad breath.
8.Dentures or braces: Food particles not properly cleaned from appliances such as braces can r
ot or cause bacteria and odor. Loose-fitting dentures may cause sores or infections in the mou
th, which can cause bad breath.
9."Morning breath": Bad breath in the morning is very common. Saliva production nearly sto
ps during sleep, allowing bacteria to grow, causing bad breath.
http://www.medicinenet.com/bad_breath/article.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bad-breath/symptoms-causes/dxc-20192379
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/bad-breath?page=2