The author of the article
Boris Lipovetskiy, DMD, 31 years experience
Bad breath (halitosis) is a common issue, but many people don’t realize that it’s caused by specific bacteria living on the back of the tongue, between taste buds, and in periodontal pockets. These bacteria produce sulfur compounds, leading to unpleasant odors.
Additionally, halitosis can be linked to:
- Digestive issues – dysbiosis and poor digestion.
- Saliva production problems – dry mouth promotes bacterial growth.
- Dental conditions – gingivitis, periodontitis, and deep cavities.
- Nasal and sinus infections – affecting airflow and breath quality.
Fortunately, bad breath can be eliminated by identifying its root cause and applying the right treatment approach.
Natalie Namajuska
Dental Hygienist
"Are you worried about bad breath? As a dental hygienist, I know how much this problem can affect your life. Don’t worry – it is completely solvable! I will determine the cause of your halitosis and offer comfortable, effective treatment options to help you completely get rid of your symptoms. The solution is often very simple — a comprehensive teeth cleaning, gum pocket treatment, and enamel whitening."
Professional Teeth Cleaning & Whitening – just $300
Enjoy a full-scale dental hygiene session with thorough cleaning, polishing, and professional whitening for a radiant smile.
Stop Bad Breath with Teeth Cleaning – Only $99!
Receive a regular teeth cleaning (no gum disease present) at a special weekday rate before 4:00 PM.
What is Halitosis?
Odor from bad breath can appear after waking up, consuming alcohol, spices, chips, coffee, or smoking. However, when the smell is persistent and strong, it is referred to as halitosis.
It’s difficult to determine how widespread halitosis is. According to various studies, it affects anywhere from 25-32% to 78% of people in different countries. The American Dental Association reports that around 50% of adults in the U.S. suffer with halitosis.
Symptoms of Halitosis
Morning breath is normal and typically caused by reduced saliva production during sleep. Saliva helps eliminate bacteria and wash away food particles and plaque. This condition has no additional symptoms, and the smell disappears after brushing your teeth.
With true halitosis, however, the odor is persistent – it often bothers the individual and those around them, and does not go away after oral hygiene practices. It is often accompanied by other symptoms, including:
Why Is It Important to Treat Bad Breath?
There are many causes of bad breath, and they are not always harmless or limited to oral health issues. Sometimes, persistent bad breath can be a sign of serious systemic diseases, including internal organ damage or even cancer.
Timely and thorough diagnosis can help detect underlying conditions at an early stage and ensure the appropriate treatment is provided. Addressing the root cause promptly is essential for protecting your overall health.
Types of Halitosis
There are three main forms of halitosis[1]:
- True Halitosis. The foul odor persists despite thorough oral hygiene. The smell is strong, constant, and noticeable to both the patient and those around them.
- Pseudo-Halitosis. This occurs after consuming certain foods, drinks, or smoking, as well as upon waking up. Often, only the patient notices the odor, while others do not. It disappears after brushing teeth (both at home and professionally), cleaning the tongue, and rinsing the mouth.
- Halitophobia. The patient is convinced they have bad breath, even though there is no odor. This is a psychological disorder often associated with heightened anxiety, neurosis, or emotional stress.
How We Treat Halitosis at Our Clinic
We use a comprehensive approach to eliminate bad breath and restore oral health:
- Deep tongue cleaning – 80% of halitosis cases are caused by bacteria on the tongue. We recommend and provide special tongue scrapers for daily hygiene.
- Professional oral cleaning – using ozonated water to kill harmful bacteria and promote oral health.
- Laser and infrared therapy – targeting bacteria in periodontal pockets and reducing inflammation.
- Microflora diagnostics – laboratory tests and microscopic analysis to determine the exact cause of halitosis.
- Medical mouthwash with iodine – a natural antiseptic that doesn’t stain teeth or cause bacterial resistance, unlike chlorhexidine.
- Specialized sprays and rinses – effective solutions to neutralize bad breath and maintain freshness.
Book a consultation today, and we’ll create a personalized treatment plan just for you!
4 Effective Ways to Freshen Your Bad Breath
The following methods will help freshen your breath if it’s caused by smoking or eating strong-flavored foods. They can also temporarily reduce bad breath linked to dental or systemic conditions.
- Brush Your Teeth. This is the most obvious method. Don’t forget to clean not just your teeth but also the spaces between them and the back of your tongue.
- Chew Gum or Mint Lozenges. This is a quick way to refresh your breath after smoking.
- Eat a Juicy Fruit. Apples, oranges, tangerines, or grapefruits are great options. Fruit acids stimulate saliva production and help kill bacteria.
- Use Home Remedies. Eat a teaspoon of sesame or coconut oil. Gargle with a baking soda solution (1 tsp per glass of warm water). Try an oral rinse with essential oils like eucalyptus, mint, or orange (1-2 drops per 150 ml of water).
Dental Treatment for Bad Breath
Halitosis treatment in dentistry focuses on eliminating its root cause. This may include plaque, subgingival tartar, pus, cavities, worn-out dental prosthetics, or mucosal lesions.
Brushing your teeth at home only removes soft bacterial plaque but won’t help with pigment stains or hard tartar. That’s why dental hygienists recommend visiting a dental clinic every 4-6 months for:
- Professional Teeth Cleaning. We begin by removing plaque and tartar and thoroughly cleaning interdental spaces. The enamel is polished with a special brush and paste, followed by a rinse with fluoride-free ozone water to strengthen and protect your teeth.
- Teeth Whitening. Particularly beneficial for patients whose halitosis is caused by smoking or excessive consumption of coffee and black tea. Whitening agents penetrate deep into the enamel, removing discoloration. For severe stains, we offer KOR Whitening for effective elimination of deep pigmentation.
Natalie Namajuska
Dental Hygienist
"Before professional cleaning and whitening, the dental hygienist at Advanced Dental Wellness Center will conduct a thorough examination. This can reveal enamel erosion, gum recession, enamel fractures, or periodontal issues — indicating that your halitosis may be caused by bruxism, bite problems, or TMJ dysfunction.
Schedule a Dental Check-up with Dr. Boris Lipovetskiy before your regular cleaning to identify the underlying causes and receive a personalized treatment plan."
Sometimes, treating halitosis requires addressing sources of inflammation in the teeth. This may include:
- Tooth Treatment. Cavities are cleaned, and infected pulp is removed. The tooth is then restored with a filling, veneer, or crown.
- Replacement of Old Fixed Prosthetics. If teeth under crowns or bridges begin to decay, the prosthetics are removed. The affected teeth are retreated or extracted if severely damaged. New prosthetics are then fabricated and fitted.
- Cleaning and Relining of Removable Dentures. Dentures are cleaned of plaque and tartar. If necessary, they are relined for a better fit to the gums, preventing food particles from getting trapped underneath.
If halitosis is caused by gingivitis or periodontitis, professional dental treatment is essential. At Advanced Dental Wellness Center, we take a comprehensive approach and combine three powerful methods:
- Periodontal Pocket Cleaning. We remove supra- and subgingival deposits, perform root planing, and treat gum pockets with antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory gels and solutions.
- Ozone Water Therapy. Bacteria thrive in deep periodontal pockets, damaging the necks and roots of teeth as well as periodontal tissues. Cleaning alone won’t eliminate the source of inflammation. That’s why we use ozonated water or gas, which provides strong disinfecting and anti-inflammatory effects while improving gum blood circulation.
- Laser Therapy. For patients with periodontitis, we use the WaterLase laser. It gently removes infected and necrotic gum tissues without harming healthy ones. The laser has a powerful antibacterial effect, preventing further infection, tooth mobility, and tooth loss.
Natalie Namajuska
Dental Hygienist
"Say goodbye to bad breath, swollen, and bleeding gums forever. Our comprehensive approach to halitosis treatment is unmatched. After treatment with us, you won’t have to worry about the recurrence of your symptoms.
In complex clinical cases, beyond cleaning with ozonated water and laser therapy, we conduct an analysis on a microscopic level. Based on the results, we prescribe targeted medications that eliminate pathogenic bacteria without disrupting the oral microbiome."
Preventing Bad Breath
Halitosis is easy to prevent with proper care. Dentists recommend the following steps for fresh breath:
- Maintain Thorough Oral Hygiene. Brush your teeth, clean interdental spaces, and rinse your mouth after every meal. Don’t forget to clean your tongue as well — this reduces bad breath by 33-42%[3].
- Adjust Your Diet. Avoid overconsuming foods with strong spices, onions, garlic, and sauces. Sweets and baked goods can also worsen bad breath as their particles stick to teeth. Eating raw vegetables, fruits, and berries helps clean the mouth and reduce harmful bacteria.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly. Schedule preventive check-ups and professional cleaning every six months to remove plaque and tartar. Regular visits also help detect and treat tooth and gum diseases early and sanitize or adjust dental prosthetics if needed.
- Quit Bad Habits. Smoking, coffee, and alcohol contribute to bad breath. For smokers, completely eliminating the odor is nearly impossible because tobacco tar coats the enamel and tongue while reducing saliva production.
- Prevent Dry Mouth (Xerostomia). Drink more water, chew gum after meals to stimulate saliva production, and consult your doctor about switching medications that cause dry mouth to alternatives.
Causes of Bad Breath in Adults
- Poor Oral Hygiene. Many people do not brush thoroughly, neglect interdental cleaning, or fail to clean their tongue. This leads to the buildup of food particles and bacterial plaque, causing continuous decomposition processes and an unpleasant odor.
- Tooth Diseases: Cavities and Pulpitis. Cavities create pockets in teeth where food accumulates, promoting bacterial growth and resulting in foul-smelling breath with a distinct rotting odor.
- Gum Diseases: Gingivitis, Periodontitis, Periodontitis, Pericoronitis. These conditions lead to the accumulation of plaque and tartar around tooth necks, in gum pockets, or under the gum flap. Bacteria multiply and form abscesses, significantly worsening the odor[5].
- Mucosal Conditions: Stomatitis, Candidiasis. When the oral mucosa is affected, the natural microflora shifts to a pathogenic one. Regular hygiene isn’t enough to remove excessive plaque, bacteria, and unpleasant odors.
- Xerostomia (Dry Mouth). Saliva helps wash away food particles, kill bacteria, and neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. Reduced saliva production intensifies bad breath. Xerostomia is usually caused by inadequate water intake, frequent use of at-home whitening products, smoking, or salivary gland dysfunction. It can also be a side effect of medications such as antidepressants, diuretics, blood pressure medications, and antibiotics.
- Poorly Fitted Dental Prosthetics: Crowns, Bridges, Dentures. Poorly fitting prosthetics allow food particles to collect underneath, where they decompose and cause bad breath. Insufficient cleaning worsens the problem, leading to tartar buildup on the prostheses.
Get Rid of Bad Breath Today!
✅ Free Consultation and Oral Health Diagnosis ✅ Identify Issues with Teeth, Gums, Mucosa, or Hygiene ✅ Comprehensive Cleaning of Teeth and Gum Pockets (with laser and ozone water if necessary)
Bad Breath from Other Diseases
In 15% of cases, halitosis is caused by non-oral issues, often related to chronic diseases of internal organs.
In 9% of cases, halitosis is linked to conditions affecting the upper and lower respiratory tract[4]. Common causes include sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, nasal or throat tumors. Patients are forced to breathe through their mouth, leading to dry mucosa, which creates a favorable environment for bacteria. Less commonly, bad breath results from tonsillitis or lung and bronchial infections.
In 3-5% of cases, bad breath originates from gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. The most frequent culprits are gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach or intestines. Less frequently, it can be due to esophageal ulcers, diverticula, or malignant tumors.
Diabetes is the most common systemic disease that causes an unusual breath smell. When blood glucose spikes, the breath may smell like acetone or sweet fruit. Trimethylaminuria (fishy odor) and hypermethioninemia (sulfur-like smell) can also change the breath’s scent.
In 1% of cases, strict diets or poor nutritional habits cause halitosis[3]. This includes low-calorie diets, prolonged fasting followed by binge eating, or consuming mainly protein or high-carb foods.
Natalie Namajuska
Dental Hygienist
"Many patients visit me with complaints of halitosis, and they are right to do so. In 90% of cases, bad breath stems from oral health issues. We successfully treat all dental causes of bad breath: curing cavities and pulpitis, cleaning teeth and gum pockets from plaque and tartar, replacing old prosthetics, and providing hygiene advice.
Are you also concerned about halitosis? Visit Advanced Dental Wellness Center! If the cause is a dental issue, we will eliminate it. Our exam and personal treatment plan is just $89 for new patients in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas."
Why Do Children Experience Bad Breath?
In children, halitosis can develop for several reasons, including:
- Poor Oral Hygiene. Children often brush their teeth poorly or not at all. Parents should monitor and help them maintain proper hygiene.
- Dental Diseases. Common causes include cavities, pulpitis, and herpetic stomatitis.
- ENT Diseases. Conditions like rhinitis, tonsillitis, inflamed adenoids, or nasal polyps are frequent in children. These diseases increase mucus production, forcing the child to breathe through their mouth, which leads to dryness and bacterial growth.
- Dietary Issues. Bad breath can result from long intervals between meals and consuming excessive amounts of fatty, sugary, or dairy products.
- Gastrointestinal Disorders. Problems like gastritis, bile stagnation, or acid reflux can cause unpleasant breath.
- Ketoacidosis. Elevated ketone levels in the blood produce a sweet or acetone-like odor. This can occur with type 1 diabetes, poor diet, systemic infections, or central nervous system disorders.
Natalie Namajuska
Dental Hygienist
"Yes, it can. Malocclusion is one of the most common causes of bad breath in children. When the bite is misaligned, it becomes impossible to fully clean teeth and interdental spaces from plaque and food particles. This leads to tartar buildup, which causes gingivitis, bleeding gums, and a foul odor.
At the ADW Center, we often treat children with bad breath that is related to malocclusion. For teens, we recommend orthodontic treatment with Invisalign aligners. These aligners discreetly and painlessly straighten teeth and correct the bite. Once the jaw alignment is corrected, the bad breath disappears. Oral hygiene improves, and plaque and tartar no longer accumulate excessively."
FAQ
How to Detect Bad Breath in Yourself?
It’s not always easy to determine if you have halitosis because your sense of smell may not detect it. Often, it’s easier for those around you to notice. Ask a friend or family member for an honest assessment of your breath.
Self-Test for Bad Breath: You can try a simple test. Lick the back of your hand — on your wrist or the crook of your elbow — using the full surface of your tongue (not just the tip), and then smell it immediately. This can help you detect any unpleasant odor.
Is Bad Breath Contagious?
No, halitosis itself isn’t contagious. However, if it’s caused by bacterial, fungal infections, or Helicobacter pylori, the pathogens can be transmitted through contact. For example, by sharing food, utensils, toothbrushes, or through kissing.
Do Breath Sprays Help?
Many people use sprays, gum, or mouthwashes with menthol, mint, eucalyptus, or antibacterial ingredients to mask bad breath. These solutions only offer temporary relief. They work by covering the smell with fragrance and stimulating saliva production, which dissolves volatile sulfur compounds.
Without addressing the root cause, bad breath will quickly return.
Why Does My Breath Smell Even After Brushing?
If you maintain good oral hygiene but still experience bad breath, the cause is likely related to a chronic condition.
- Dental Causes: Deep periodontal pockets are a common source and can be difficult to detect on your own.
- Non-Dental Causes: Bad breath may stem from gastrointestinal or respiratory conditions, such as reflux disease or sinus infections.
If your breath remains unpleasant despite thorough brushing, consult a specialist for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan.
Sources of information
- Causes and Management of Halitosis: A Narrative Review. Rita M Khounganian, Osama N Alasmari, Mohammed M Aldosari, Nawaf M Alghanemi. Cureus. 2023 Aug 19; 15(8): e43742.
- Estimated prevalence of halitosis: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Manuela F Silva, Fábio R M Leite, Larissa B Ferreira, Natália M Pola, Frank A Scannapieco, Flávio F Demarco, Gustavo G Nascimento. Clin Oral Investig. 2018 Jan; 22(1): 47-55.
- Halitosis: From diagnosis to management. Bahadır Uğur Aylıkcı, Hakan Çolak. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2013 Jan-Jun; 4(1): 14-23.
- Revisiting Standard and Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Halitosis: A Review by Catarina Izidoro, João Botelho, Vanessa Machado, Ana Mafalda Reis, Luís Proença, Ricardo Castro Alves and José João Mendes. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11303.
- The relation between foetor ex ore, oral hygiene and periodontal disease. B Söder, B Johansson, P O Söder. Swed Dent J. 2000; 24(3): 73-82.
