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General Forum Topics > General Q and A Forum > What causes bad breath ?
Bad breath can often be the first sign of a disease. But how do doctors define bad breath and what are the major causes of bad breath?...
Did you know that bad breath can be associated with sinus problems? Learn more about the common (and unfamiliar) causes of bad breath here....
Did you know that symptoms of bad breath depend upon medical cause? More here on major causes and related symptoms of bad breath...plus when to seek help....
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Q: What causes bad breath ?
asked by: DoctorQuestion on June 7th, 2007
I am having bade breath for 7yrs. Is it because of gastric problem or throt. if that is the cause, what is the solution?


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on June 13th, 2007
General Q&A Answer A2901
There are many conditions that can cause bad breath (halitosis):
1. Eating certain types of food (cabbage, garlic, raw onions, or coffee), vitamin supplements or drugs;
2. Disorders in the oral cavity: poor dental hygiene, dentures, cavities, gum disease (gingivitis, gingivostomatitis), abscessed tooth, impacted tooth, periodontal disease, Acute necrotizing ulcerative mucositis, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis,
3. Tobacco smoking and alcoholism;
4. Respiratory disorders: ozena (atrophic rhinitis), sinusitis, throat infection, lung infection, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, foreign body in the nose etc;
5. Disorders of the digestive system: bowel obstruction (can cause breath to smell like feces), Esophageal cancer, Gastric carcinoma, Gastrojejunocolic fistula (fruity-smelling breath), Hepatic encephalopathy, Zenker's diverticulum etyc;
6. Chronic renal failure (can cause breath to smell like ammonia);
7. Diabetes mellitus (fruity or sweet chemical smell with ketoacidosis).
To diagnose the possible cause of bad breath, first you can visit your dentist. If your teeth are OK, then you can visit your GP. Your GP may send you to an ENT or internist, if necessary.





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