Bad breath occurs or is related to a physical illness

Why do I have bad breath? There are many causes of bad breath, bacteria break down chemicals that can cause bad breath, and some oral diseases and physical ailments can also cause bad breath.

Why do you have bad breath

1. Caused by bacteria decomposing chemicals

Bad breath is caused by sulfur-containing gases produced by bacteria lurking on the surface of the teeth and under the tongue to break down proteins, peptides and amino acids. There are two sulfur-containing amino acid components in proteins, namely cystine and methionine.The sulfur-containing compounds produced by their decomposition are hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl disulfide. In addition, some organic acids have also been linked to bad breath, such as butyric acid and propionic acid, as well as compounds such as indole, methylindole, and cadaverine.

At least 82 microorganisms in the oral cavity are metabolic to produce hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptans, and fatty acids. These bacteria are mainly Fusobacterium, Haemophilus, Veron coccus, and treponema tartar, among others. IgA (an antibody) in saliva inhibits bacterial activity. Therefore, increased anaerobic bacteria under the tongue and on the tooth surface may be related to IgA deficiency. The smell emitted by these bacteria can also cause bad breath.

2. Pathological causes

The diseases most closely associated with bad breath are dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. In addition to oral diseases, diseases of organs near the oral cavity, such as tonsil stones, sinusitis, nasal polyps, etc., are also common causes of bad breath.

Many patients with systemic diseases exhale some special flavors, such as the fruity breath of diabetic patients, the fishy smell of renal failure patients,cirrhosisThe patient has a sulfur smell in his mouth.

It is often believed that gastrointestinal diseases are an important cause of bad breath.In fact, the esophagus is closed when it is not eating, and only when there is a hiccup can gas from the gastrointestinal tract be expelled through the mouth. Therefore, bad breath has little to do with the gastrointestinal tract, unless it is a more serious stomach disease, such as gastric cancer, gastric ulcer, etc., and poor esophageal sealing, it will be accompanied by persistent halitosis.

In addition, saliva secretion decreases during sleep, and the tongue and cheek muscles are basically at rest, which can easily lead to bad breath; People who are easily excited, angry, or depressed often have bad breath; Women are also more likely to have bad breath during menstruation and pregnancy; Eating habits play an important role in the formation of bad breath, and foods such as onions, garlic, and animal fats can cause bad breath; Some patients also develop bad breath after taking certain medications, such as dimethyl sulfide, quinine, and antihistamines.