Having a bad breath is something that no one wishes for, but a worse scenario is one not knowing that they have it. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is an unpleasant odour of the mouth which can occur occasionally or can be a chronic condition. 

Halitosis can be distressing for the person with the condition and can also be tough on the people around them.Audrey Gasirabo says he once had a friend who had a bad breath and he always found it hard to have a conversation or even be around them for a long time, something that led to their break-up.

"I could sometimes offer sweet breath mints or chewing gum to reduce on the problem but that only worked for a few hours and the bad odour always came back. It was really hard dealing with her and the worst part was that I couldn’t tell her,” Gasirabo says.

Bad breath can indeed be a distressing condition and according to experts there are a number of factors that can lead to that condition.

According to Dr Epimake Kayiranga, a dentist at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, the most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene.

He explains that the bacteria that build up on a person’s teeth, tongue and gums can cause plaque (the soft, white deposit that forms on the teeth’s surface), leading to gingival diseases and dental caries.

"The bacteria combine with saliva to break down food particles and proteins, which releases an unpleasant smelling gas, and if you don’t brush and floss the teeth regularly, any food trapped between the teeth will be broken down by the bacteria, causing bad breath,” Dr Kayiranga says.

Smoking is another cause of bad breath. Smoking can also stain the teeth, irritate the gums and lessen the sense of taste.

Dr Kayiranga points out that smoking can also increase the risk of developing gum disease, which is another cause of bad breath. Stopping smoking will lower the risk of gum disease and thus help prevent bad breath.

He also says crash dieting, such as fasting and low-carbohydrate diets, can cause bad breath as it causes the body to break down fat, which produces chemicals called ketones that tend to be smelly.

Some types of medication can also cause bad breath. Medications associated with bad breath include nitrates which are sometimes used to treat angina (chest pain caused by a restriction in the blood supply to the heart), some chemotherapy medication and tranquilisers.

"In some cases, gastrointestinal conditions may cause bad breath. For example, helicobacter pylori infections (bacterial infections of the stomach lining and small intestine) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, these have been linked with bad breath.

Bad breath can also be caused by eating strongly flavoured foods such as garlic, onions and spiced food. These are likely to make one’s breath smelly. Also, drinks with a strong smell such as alcohol and coffee can also cause bad breath.

Research done by WebMD also stresses that food begins to be broken down in one’s mouth and as it gets digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, it is eventually carried to one’s lungs, which give off breath.

Therefore, if one eats foods with a strong odour, brushing and flossing merely covers up the odour temporarily.

The odour will not go away completely until the foods have passed through the body.

The research continues to point out that out gum disease which can be caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth, persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.

If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and the jawbone.

What can be done to treat bad breaths?

Bad breath can be reduced or prevented if one practices good oral hygiene by say brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque and not forgetting to brush the tongue too, Dr Kayiranga advises.

Replace a toothbrush for every two to three months and using floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between teeth once a day prevents bad breath. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash twice a day also helps.

Experts also advise that one should see a dentist at least twice a year for an oral examination and professional teeth cleaning. This enables one to detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of the bad mouth odor.

Drinking lots of water also helps to keep the mouth moist. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) also stimulates the production of saliva which helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Gums and mints containing xylitol are the best option.