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• How Does What You Eat Affect Breath?
• Why Do Poor Habits Cause Bad Breath?
• What Health Problems Are Associated With Bad Breath?
• What Can I Do to Prevent Bad Breath?
• Who Treats Bad Breath?
• What Products Can I Use to Eliminate Bad Breath?

Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor oral hygiene habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

How Does What You Eat Affect Breath?

Basically, all the food you eat begins to be broken down in your mouth. As foods are digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they are eventually carried to your lungs and given off in your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as, garlic or onions), brushing and flossing - even mouthwash - merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.

Why Do Poor Habits Cause Bad Breath?
 

If you don't brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which promotes bacteria growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath. In addition, odor-causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if dentures are not properly cleaned.

Smoking or chewing tobacco-based products can also cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods, and irritate gum tissues.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Dry Mouth - Read about dry mouth causes (dehydration, diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, medications for allergies and anxiety), symptoms (sore throat, raw tongue) and treatment. Source:WebMD Medical Reference from The Cleveland Clinic Read 21 more Bad Breath related articles ... Health Tip: Helping Halitosis Magnolia Bark Extract vs. Bad Breath