Who Among Us Has Bad Breath?

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If you never brush your teeth and eat lots of onions, bad breath is sure to follow. But the causes are not always that obvious.

The October issue of the Journal of Dental Research reported that researchers from Tel Aviv University looked for personal traits that might be linked with bad breath. They found that people with bad breath drink more alcohol, and are likely to be overweight or obese.

The researchers gave a questionnaire to 88 people who were getting check-ups in a doctor's office. They also used three measures to see if the people in the study had bad breath.

Each person's breath was judged by one of the researchers. They gave each person a breath test called a Halimeter. The test measures volatile sulfides, chemicals that contribute to bad breath. The researchers also took saliva samples and measured the levels of a chemical called beta-galactosidase.

In nine people, all three tests indicated bad breath. Those people drank more alcohol than people whose tests did not show bad breath. They also were more likely to have a high body mass index, indicating excess weight.

The Most Common Causes Of Bad Breath
Bad breath can be a sign of other medical problems, including chronic sinus infections, diabetes, reflux or bronchitis. However, in most otherwise healthy people, bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth. It can be controlled with brushing, flossing, and scraping or brushing the tongue.

A recent study of older people found that 28% believed they had bad breath. Most of these people did not brush their teeth more than once a day. Most also reported that their mouths felt constantly dry. Dry mouth is also called xerostomia. It is a common side effect of medicines. It can contribute to bad breath.