Stress and high protein intake cause bad breath

When stressed, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, causing the body to cut down on saliva production, making our mouths dry and causing bad odors.

It is estimated that at some point, bad breath (bad breath) affects 50% of the population. This is considered a very common problem. The cause of bad breath is mainly due to excess bacteria in the oral cavity. Usually, keeping oral hygiene can help control this amount of bacteria.

Besides, tooth decay and gum disease increase the amount of bacteria in the mouth, they release stinking gases called volatile sulfur compounds, which also cause unpleasant odors.

Many types of bacteria on the tongue also contribute to bad breath."We do not know that the plaque on the tongue is also caused by bacteria and these bacteria cause odor," explained George Preti, a researcher from Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, USA.

In case if you have thoroughly cleaned your teeth, avoid eating spicy foods and your mouth still has an unpleasant odor, it may be due to some of the following reasons.

1. Too stressful

When stressed, our sympathetic nervous system will work. This helps the body respond immediately in situations where it is necessary to make a decision 'to fight or ignore' . But one of the implications of this mechanism is the reduction in saliva production, resulting in a dry mouth.

'Anything that dries your mouth makes your breath smell worse . ' That is the statement of dentist Phil Stemmer, from London's Cool Breath Center.

The cause of dry mouth due to evaporation of saliva and therefore, the release of gases. And bacteria can cling to the mouth and make things worse. To limit it, drink plenty of water and boost your saliva production by chewing sugar-free singum.

2. Salivary gland stones

Another cause of bad breath is salivary gland stones. They are formed when food debris reacts with chemicals in saliva, crystallizing into a "pebble" that can prevent saliva ducts, disrupt saliva flow, cause dryness and bad breath . This is announced by George Murty, an ENT consultant at the University of Leicester Hospitals.

This pebble can cause swelling of the jaw, causing sharpness when eaten. Surgery can be done to remove or if small stones only need to suck on vinegar or tangerine (things that stimulate saliva production) to remove them. Bad breath is also caused by tonsil stones, often in the corner or cracks of the tonsils.

The tonsils secreted a liquid to lubricate the mouth, but crystalline stones could stop them. These pebbles create a bad smell when bacteria enter. They often peel off naturally over time, but large ones need surgery to be removed.

Photo: Heath

3. Choice of mouthwash

You can assume that mouthwash will cool your breath, but alcoholic gargles can be counterproductive. Alcohol prevents the production of antidiuretic hormones (hormones that help keep urine). That's why when you drink them, your body becomes dehydrated and causes dry mouth, which makes your breath smell worse.

4. Habits of opening your mouth when sleeping, smoking, drinking coffee and exercising without adding enough water can also cause dry mouth.

Sjogren's syndrome, a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body's white blood cells damage the salivary glands and lacrimal glands. Thereby reducing the production of fluids and causing bad breath.

'Sjogren patients are at greater risk of cavities because many bacteria attach to their teeth and there is not enough saliva to wash them away , ' said Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific advisor to the British Dental Association.

5. Infection

Any infection of the nose, mouth or throat such as sinusitis or tonsillitis can lead to bad breath, Murty added.'Breaths containing bacteria carry the smell of infection' , ENT consultant and surgeon from Norwich Hospital Foundation Trust, John Philips said.

Some cancer cells also smell and are more susceptible to infections than normal cells, Murty said.'Rapidly growing tumors can smell terrible. So when someone has a tumor in the nose, throat, tonsils or larynx, the odor can come out when they breathe . ' But fortunately these types of cancers are very rare.

6. Do drugs

Many common drugs that can cause bad breath include nitrates (often used to reduce chest pain by dilating arteries), some chemotherapy drugs, tranquilizers and choloral hydrate (short tranquilizers). The term is used to combat insomnia.

'When you swallow something that contains a strong active ingredient, it can also produce odors and store a part in your mouth,' explained Professor Walmsley. Meanwhile, more than 1,800 drugs are thought to cause dry mouth, including antidepressants, anti-allergic, anti-emetic and high blood pressure.

7. Side effects of heartburn

When heartburn, acid rising may also cause bad breath. Reflux occurs when an amount of acid in the stomach escapes through the valves above and re-enters the esophagus.

'If you burp, acid and an enzyme called pepsin that spills up your throat can cause unpleasant odors , ' Mr. Murty explained. You can try taking antacids but if symptoms become severe and prolonged, see your doctor.

In addition, people with a sacs ('bag' located above the esophagus) can make food stuck there.'Usually the food will be brought back to the throat after a few hours and create a breathy smell,' Murty explained.

This condition usually affects people over 60 years of age and the accompanying symptoms are difficult to swallow, chronic cough and weight loss.

8. Eat too much protein

Smelly breath is a side effect of a diet low in carbohydrates. This happens because in the absence of carbon hydrate (resulting in a lack of energy), the liver breaks down the fat, leading to a chemical called ketone produced, which carries the smell of a metal.

This can also happen to people with diabetes. Now because the liver cannot break down sugar, it breaks down fat instead. In addition, patients with cirrhosis may have bad breath because the liver cannot process nutrients from food properly, releasing some compounds and causing unpleasant odors.

People with end-stage renal failure may experience unpleasant breathing (called blood urea breathing) - due to excess urea in the blood, kidneys filter out, break them and cause odors like ammonia in saliva.

In particular, women should pay more attention to oral hygiene before and during the menstrual cycle because the gums may be swollen, red, inflamed or bleeding due to high estrogen levels. Gingivitis attracts bacteria and produces volatile sulfur compounds, causing odors in the mouth.