Bad Breath

About the Symptom

Bad breath or halitosis is a persistent, unpleasant odor in exhaled breath. It is usually not significant but could be due to certain foods, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, dry mouth, smoking and tobacco and certain medical conditions.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Fever
• Dysphagia
• Chest pain during swallowing

Possible Causes

Generally, Bad breath can be related to:

• Dental Caries

  Dental caries occur when the hard outer layer of your tooth, the enamel, gets destroyed, sometimes forming small holes or cavitations. Common causes include eating and drinking sugary foods, frequent snacking, dry mouth and poor oral hygiene.

• Stomatitis

  Inflammation of the mouth surface causes ulcers. Various factors can cause this, such as vitamin deficiencies, medications, and autoimmunity (the body's immune system attacking itself). Often, no clear cause is found, and the ulcers heal on their own.

• Acute Tonsillitis / Pharyngitis

  Infection of the tonsils and pharynx (back of the mouth), either by viruses or bacteria.

• Sinusitis
• Candidiasis (Oral, Hands and Feet)
• Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
• COVID-19

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Bad breath may be related to these serious diseases:

• Cyclic Vomiting

  A condition with repeated and severe vomiting. Patients may become very unwell due to dehydration and starvation. The exact cause is unknown, but known triggers include emotional stress, anxiety, or viral illnesses.

• Chronic Kidney Disease

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you feel that you have bad breath?
• How long have you had bad breath or smelly breath?

Find Similar Symptoms

References

• Lee PP, Mak WY, Newsome P. The aetiology and treatment of oral halitosis: an update. Hong Kong Med J. 2004 Dec;10(6):414-8. PMID: 15591601.