Individuals who suffer from bad breath report that they experience a sense of shame about this disease. What they don’t realize is this is a widespread issue affecting millions of people every year. Everybody has experienced bad breath at one time or another. One particular example would be when people wake up in the morning. Saliva production is inhibited and the mouth is dry, which can have that sour smell. That is already one example of bad breath.

Researchers that have been compiling information about bad breath, report that while it cannot be fully prevented, it is still possible for it to be cured. This is a good thing to know because nobody wants to be that person who suffers from halitosis and causes his friends to cringe away every time they smell his breath.

According to some bad breath reports compiled on the Internet, here are some of the more popular causes of bad breath and how they affect you.

1. Cavities – when your teeth have holes in them, it is easy for the bacteria and food particles to burrow in and start reproducing. Brushing alone may not dislodge the particles and it does not take long for it to start decaying and affecting your breath.
2. Respiratory tract infections – when you’re sick, your breath is also affected. Post nasal drip can be trapped at the back of your throat and the mucus it produces will still be broken down by the anaerobic bacteria. Since mucus contains protein, the bacteria will break it down and create that sulfuric smell.
3. Constipation – when you are not able to remove body wastes, it stays in your intestines and the smell will waft right back up and cause bad breath. Reports indicate that this is a normal reaction that will only go away after you remove those wastes from your body.
4. Inadequate diet – your body will always let you know if there is something wrong. An inadequate diet will not use up all the acids in your stomach, which will then go looking for other things to digest. The excess acid produces a smell that travels up and gets out through your mouth. You will sometimes feel this when you burp – there is an acidic quality that leaves a sour taste at the back of your throat.
5. Alcohol abuse – people who consume alcohol are the ones who are prone to bad breath. Reports from medical professionals and dentists all say the same thing – alcohol is a drying agent that encourages the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Other than alcoholic beverages, another common household item we use that contains alcohol is mouthwash. People are led to believe that mouthwash is good because it removes the smell. This is a misconception because mouthwash doesn’t really remove it; it only masks the smell for a short period of time. If the mouthwash contains alcohol, it speeds up the drying process and the growth of bacteria causing bad breath.

There are a lot of bad breath reports being compiled as we speak as more and more scientists search for a breakthrough that will allow individuals to live without the fear of bad breath and the social stigma attached to it. Some victim of bad breath report suffering from anxiety and panic attacks because of the shame they feel. Finding a solution to all that can let a lot of people rest easier knowing they never have to feel ashamed about their bad breath ever again.