At times, even those people who have a perfect oral hygiene may suffer from bad breath. Are you wondering why? Bad breath is mainly caused due to an oral infection and when the infection is treated, the bad breath disappears along with it. However, apart from oral infection, there are a myriad of infections that have nothing to do with the mouth, but, nevertheless, can still cause bad breath in people. Remember, bad breath is in itself not a disease but an indication of a bigger ailment that may be breeding in you. It can be termed as a natural way in which the body lets you know that there is something wrong which needs immediate attention. This article includes few infections which can result in bad breath. Take a quick look to find out if you fall into any of these categories.
Infections Causing Bad Breath
Infections Causing Bad Breath
- Strep throat is one of the most commonly seen infections which can cause bad breath. An itchy feeling at the back of the throat, along with foul breath is the symptoms of strep throat. It can be cured by the intake of few antibiotics. However, if the infection is serious enough, surgical removal of the tonsils is usually considered. Once the throat infection is treated, the bad breath should be cured too.
- Nasal polyp is nothing, but a swollen mass of tissue in the nasal cavity. It usually grows out when one is suffering from sinus. Since the nose is blocked, one has to breathe through the mouth. This, in turn, causes dry mouth and prepares the breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria which causes bad breath. People suffering from chronic allergies and sinus infections are prone to bad breath. Either corticosteroids or a surgical removal of the nasal polyp can cure the infection and consequently bad breath.
- Bronchitis is a viral infection and can be both acute and chronic. Lasting for a few days, it can result after you have a sore throat or severe cold. Bronchitis causes bad breath. If one is suffering from chronic bronchitis, then there is an accumulation of too much phlegm in the air passages. This leads to persistent coughing and can result in the matter being coughed up from the lungs which, in turn, causes foul breath.
- Chronic lung infection results in abscesses in the lungs and causes extremely bad breath.
- If the kidney stops functioning in a person, he/she might experience a bad breath infection which smells like urine.
- If one’s liver stops functioning, it can result in bad breath. The foul smell emitted from the mouth in such cases is described as “fishy”.
- Acid reflux is a condition when the undigested lumps of food as well as gastric acids spurt back into the esophagus from the stomach. This causes a sour taste in the mouth as well as bad breath. At times, a slight insertion of stomach into the chest cavity can also result in bad breath.
- Diabetes is a medical condition which can also result in bad breath. Since diabetes weakens the immune system of the body, the body is not equipped enough to control the growth of anaerobic bacteria which is a prime stimulant for bad breath. Moreover, diabetes also results in dehydration and dry mouth and hence results in an outburst of anaerobic bacteria in the mouth.
- Pneumonia is a type of lung infection caused either by a bacteria or virus. The air sacs in the lungs are filled with pus, mucous and other liquids, resulting in no oxygen passage to the blood and other body cells. This causes bad breath.
- Sjogren’s syndrome is a type of autoimmune disorder, where the immune cells of the body destroy the tear and saliva glands. It results in dry eyes and mouth and consequently bad odor in the mouth.
- Canker sores are small ulcers found on the lining of the tongue and mouth. Generally caused due to a viral infection, it has a tendency to attract bacteria and hence cause bad breath. In order to treat it, it is essential to rinse the mouth with an anti-bacterial mouthwash every day.
