Reasons for bad breath or halitosis - Diabetes, liver and kidney diseases and more | Photo Credit: Getty Images

New Delhi: You may have found it out yourself or may have been told about it by a family member, co-worker, or friend, but bad breath is a reality for everyone, at least once in their lives. However, some people suffer from the problem of bad breath all the time, which is a thing of concern as it can interfere with the normal activities of life and can also be really embarrassing.

You can treat the bad breath that occurs once in a while with chewing gum or mint, and the reasons for that may not be so important anyway. It could occur because of the last meal you have eaten, a nap you took, or due to smoking a cigarette. However, treatment of long-lasting bad breath is important and the first step for the same is to identify the reasons for the bad breath. Your bad breath may be a result of one or more of the following causes. READ - Oral care for diabetics – How people suffering from diabetes can protect their teeth and gums

Poor oral hygiene

The reason for bad breath can be the bacteria present in the mouth. If the bacteria grow beyond the right limit, they can lead to oral problems like gum diseases like Teeth Pyria and cause bad breath. It is important to exhibit proper oral hygiene – brush teeth twice a day, clean your tongue and floss.

Respiratory infections

Another reason for bad breath can be respiratory infections like sinusitis, bronchitis, etc. This happens because such diseases can cause nasal secretions to drain into the mouth and cause bad breath.

Diabetes

According to some experts, people with diabetes experience bad breath due to the presence of high levels of ketones in their blood. When enough insulin is not produced in the body, sugar cannot be broken down for energy. The body then starts burning fat for energy which produces ketones. These ketones present in the body can lead to bad breath. READ - A healthy nighttime routine for type 2 diabetes - Manage and control blood sugar levels before going to bed

Liver diseases

According to an article published in the Journal of Chromatography, bad breath is used as a diagnostic symptom for liver diseases. Apparently, late-stage liver diseases can cause a sweet, musty aroma because of dimethyl sulfide.

Kidney diseases

Chronic kidney problems can also lead to bad breath which happens due to the presence of urea in the saliva and its subsequent breakdown to ammonia. According to NIH, kidney failure can cause the breath to smell “fishy” or like ammonia.