Bad Breath!

Bad breathe also known as "Halitosis" is a breath that has an unpleasant odor. The primary cause of bad breath is the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth particularly on the back of your tongue. The mouth's warm, moist conditions make an ideal environment for these bacteria to grow. One of the most well-known type of bad breath is "morning mouth". The "morning mouth" type of bad breath occurs because the saliva that regularly washes away decaying food and odors during the daytime diminishes at night while you sleep.

Causes of Bad Breath:

1. Poor dental hygiene- Infrequent or improper brushing and flossing can leave food particles to decay inside the mouth.

2. External agents — Garlic, onions, coffee, cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco

3. Respiratory tract infections — Throat infections, sinus infections, lung infections

4. Infections in the mouth — Periodontal (gum) disease

5. Dry mouth (xerostomia) — This can be caused by salivary gland problems, medications or by "mouth breathing."

6. Systemic illnesses — Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others

You can prevent this by:

1. Brushing your teeth, tongue, gum's after meals.
2. Flossing and rinsing with mouthwash
3. Drinking plenty of water everyday to encourage saliva production

I have read this article from Colgate website.