CHANCES are you have never been thrown out of anywhere for having bad breath, but I know a few husbands who have been banished to the couch. Bad breath is bad news for relationships. Some people start seeing really nice guys or girls and while things were looking pretty good for them, unfortunately, they were not smelling too good.

What is bad breath anyway? It is the result of odour-causing bacteria that create waste materials in the mouth. Food particles get trapped in the creases and grooves and especially on the fissures of the tongue, and become nutrition for bacteria. And when these bacteria feed, they release gaseous waste products that cause foul-smelling odours known as volatile sulfur compounds. The odour of these gases is similar to that of rotten eggs. You probably know what that smells like!

We all have bad breath sometimes. There are two types of bad breath-transitionary and chronic. Transitionary bad breath is short-lasting and usually comes from eating foods such as garlic or onions. It can also be just a case of morning breath. As we sleep, saliva production is decreased and this allows bacteria to proliferate;the result is morning breath. Chronic bad breath is the long-lasting type that makes people wince. I like to refer to this as the “ long-term relationship killer” and this is also called halitosis.

Let us look at common factors that can lead to both types of bad breath. If you do not remove all the tiny bits of food from your mouth and between your teeth through proper brushing and flossing, bad breath can result. Also, if you have gingivitis or gum disease, you will harbour much more bacteria than usual. If you do not scrape your tongue properly, the film of bacteria in all the little crevices of your tongue can produce an unpleasant smell. Up to 90 percent of bad breath comes from the back of your tongue! In addition to the normal accumulation of bacteria found here, millions of people suffer from post-nasal drip, sometimes without being aware of it. The mucus that drips down onto the back of the tongue is broken down by your mouth’s bacteria, causing even more odour.

Also called xerostomia, dry mouth results from lack of saliva because of age, medication, or loss of salivary glands from surgery or radiation therapy. Aside from causing bad breath, it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, because saliva flow helps clean and shield the mouth and teeth. Over-the-counter artificial saliva replacement, a manmade version of what your mouth normally produces, help some patients.

Hundreds of medications, especially for diabetes, can cause dry mouth. As mentioned, you can buy artificial saliva that can help keep your mouth lubricated, or you can chew sugar-free gum.

When you diet, your body goes into survival mode called ketosis. Stomach fluids called ketones are produced when you fast or diet, giving off an odour that is not quite the same as the usual bad-breath smell, which results from just bacteria. Smoking is also a major culprit because it dries out the mouth and leaves a foul-smelling residue. Alcohol also dries out your mouth and prevents saliva from keeping bacteria in check. A small percentage of bad-breath offenders are suffering from a serious sickness, such as liver problems, cancer, lung abscess, or tonsillitis. When all else fails to indicate a cause for bad breath, you should consult a physician.

Finally, having bad breath is not like having body odour. You cannot just take a shower and change your clothes and it goes away. It requires consultation with your dentist, diligent oral care and a change in lifestyle.