Psychological and objective causes of bad breath
Imagined bad breath is called psychological or false bad breath, where people believe that their breath smells bad when it actually does not. There are other objective causes that lead to this smell, including oral health, sinusitis, dehydration, or diabetes, for example.
Psychological bad breath may occur in people who tend to exaggerate normal body sensations, or who have obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, or social stress, or who suffer from a serious mental disorder, such as schizophrenia.
According to Treat My OCD, an intense fear of bad breath is associated with mental health disorders, such as halitosis (anxiety about bad breath), bromidrophobia (body odor), social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder related to hygiene.
To some extent, it is normal for a person to worry about bad breath, but if they become obsessed with it and engage in unhealthy behaviors (e.g., excessive brushing or flossing), it can become a more serious mental health problem.
Treatment Methods
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is the most effective treatment for overcoming or managing the fear of bad breath.
On the other hand, experts at Johns Hopkins University say that identifying the objective causes of unpleasant breath is an essential first step in assessing the condition.
There are many causes of bad breath, just as there are many sources of bacteria in the mouth.
Objective Causes of the Condition
Some Foods
The things you eat are linked to your oral health, including your breath. Ingredients, such as garlic and onions, or any food, are absorbed into your bloodstream. Until that food is out of your body, it can affect your breath.
Poor oral health care
Without proper and regular brushing and flossing, and routine dental checkups, food remains in the mouth, which is a breeding ground for bacteria that cause bad breath.
Improper cleaning of dentures
Dentures that are not cleaned properly can collect bacteria, fungi, and leftover food particles. All of these causes lead to bad breath.
Bacteria on the tongue
Some bacteria on the back of the tongue can react with amino acids in foods and produce foul-smelling sulfur compounds.
Gum disease
One of the main symptoms of this gum disease is bad breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. This condition requires immediate attention from an oral health care provider.
Dry mouth
This condition is often a major part of bad breath. When the mouth does not produce enough saliva, it cannot clean itself, and it cannot remove debris and particles left behind by food.
Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications, a problem with the salivary gland, or always breathing through the mouth instead of the nose.
Tobacco products
Tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and snuff, stain teeth and put your body at risk for many diseases.
Other health conditions
Halitosis may be a symptom of any of the following conditions:
• Respiratory infection.
• Infection of the nose, windpipe, or lungs.
• Chronic bronchitis.
• Postnasal drip.
• Chronic sinusitis.
• Diabetes.
• Digestive disorder.
• Liver or kidney disorder.
Treatment for bad breath.
Treatment depends primarily on the cause of the condition.
To prevent bad breath:
• Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day.
• Clean your tongue, roof of your mouth, and inside your cheeks.
• Clean your dentures well.
• Quit smoking.
• Keep your saliva flowing by eating healthy foods that require chewing, such as carrots and apples, which require lots of saliva. You can also chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free candy.
• Visit your dentist regularly.
