Halitosis Stinky Breath

Is bad breath a problem for you?

Halitosis is a problem than thousands of people suffer from needlessly, often because even their best friends won't tell them that they have a problem with bad breath.

Stinky breath can be caused by a variety of food and health-related things.

Foul breath can be caused by the type of foods you eat. Onions and garlic taste pretty good and are very healthy for you. (They are a great help in warding off colds and flu.) But onions and garlic are notorious for making your breath smell foul. A true case of "dog breath".

Other halototsis bad breath symptoms can come from poor oral hygiene... If you don't clean your teeth regularly, you may have rotting food particles caught between your teeth. The decaying food not only stinks out your breath, it can also cause cavities in your teeth through food acids which attack the tooth enamel.

And bad breath can also be caused by digestive upsets, when your stomach isn't functioning properly or if you are in the habit of overeating. In such cases a whole variety of other ailments can be triggered, including gastric reflux - where partly digested food escapes back upwards from the stomach area and burns your oesophagus (the food tube that runs between your mouth and your stomach).

So if you have smelly breath, or  you have a friend who does, don't ignore the problem. Consult a medical doctor or other health professional. If you're lucky you might only need to modify your diet somewhat; but halitosis should never be ignored. Most times it won't just go away, and covering it up with breath mints only masks the problem. It doesn't cure it.

Next: Acid Reflux Bad Breath