Before we get into the cause of chronic bad breath or chronic halitosis, we need to understand the nature of the problem.
Picture this: It's lunchtime, so you leave work in search of something satisfying, preferably something that will fill you up while helping to eliminate the accumulating stresses of the day. Down the street on the right is your favorite sub shop. Mmmm... You order their best Italian sub and have them top it off with onions and sweet peppers. It definitely hit the spot, but now you're back at work, trying desperately not to exhale toward any of your co-workers. You know what that sub did to your breath, and you go through the afternoon apologizing to everyone in advance, just in case.
Naturally, you could keep some oral hygiene supplies at work to freshen up a bit, chew some gum perhaps. That might help a bit. But what if you didn't know that the food you ate had that impact on you? And what if the resulting odor didn't occur only after you ate certain foods, but was there when you awoke and lasted all day long? Now imagine that the odor is there seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day... Yikes!
So what's the cause of chronic bad breath?
The primary cause of all breath problems is the presence of sulfur compounds produced by anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria live within the throat and the surface of the tongue. They're referred to as anaerobic ("without oxygen") bacteria because they thrive in oxygen-free environments. Their purpose is to break down certain proteins. The breakdown process produces a number of compounds such as Hydrogen Sulfide and Methyl Mercaptan. Unfortunately, these compounds are rich in sulfur, and the release creates unpleasant odors and tastes.
When the bacteria break down proteins at the normal rate, your breath is fine, or at least, it's controllable. But for those who suffer from chronic halitosis, conditions which cause the bacteria to reproduce more rapidly and to process proteins at higher rates, are ever-present and produce constant bad breath. So these out-of-control anaerobic bacteria are the root cause of the problem.
One cause of chronic bad breath is post-nasal drip. A post-nasal drip coats the back of the tongue and the throat with mucous. Maybe you've seen a coat on the back of your tongue ranging in color from white to almost yellow. That's most likely due to post-nasal drip. For the anaerobic bacteria, your coated tongue is a protein-rich smorgasbord. This rich food source promotes rapid bacterial reproduction and accelerated sulfur compound production. Unless you do something about it, it never goes away. Solve the post-nasal drip problem and you just might eliminate the cause of chronic bad breath.
Another cause of chronic bad breath is dry mouth. Anything that makes your mouth dryer reduces the amount of saliva present in your mouth. Saliva contains Oxygen and helps reduce the number of bacteria. The less saliva you have, the more ideal the environment for anaerobic bacteria to thrive. Consuming alcoholic beverages, using a mouthwash containing alcohol, smoking, taking certain medications... All of these are things can give you a dry mouth. Maybe you don't drink enough water each day. Dehydration will result in a dryer mouth. When dehydration is an ongoing issue, it can be a cause of chronic bad breath.
Do you ever find horrible, little white lumps in your mouth? They're called Tonsil Stones and are caused by a build-up of sulfur-producing bacteria and debris that become lodged in your tonsil crypts. When this debris combines with the sulfur compounds produced by the anaerobic bacteria, it becomes an ongoing problem. Once tonsil stones begin to develop, they won;t go away until you take action.
Finally, since you're concerned enough about your breath to take the time to read this, I probably don't need to mention that diseases of the mouth, gums, teeth, and tongue can also be a cause of chronic bad breath, especially when they go untreated. Make sure you visit your dentist regularly and follow his or her advice regarding treatment.
See my article Fourteen Guidelines To Help Prevent Bad Breath for additional help fighting bad breath.
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