Causes of Bad Breath or Halitosis

What causes a halitosis or bad breath condition?

There are a number of possible causes of halitosis. Below we have listed some possible causes of a bad breath condition and have separated them into medical and dental causes.

Medical

1. Sinus infections & abnormal sinus anatomies, post nasal drainage (drips)
2. Tonsilar infections or tonsiloliths
3. Lung diseases
4. Kidney diseases
5. Liver diseases
6. Blood disorders
7. Diabetes
8. Gallbladder dysfunction
9. Menstruation
10. Carcinomas
11. Certain foods

Dental

1. Extensive dental decay
2. Periodontal (gum) disease
3. Oral infections or abscesses
4. Oral cancers
5. Xerostomia (dry mouth condition). Many medications can contribute to a condition of xerostomia.
6. Oral conditions resulting from post-nasal drips or discharges
7. Allergy conditions
8. A proliferation of specific types of gram (-) anaerobic bacteria.