There are around one in four people who are through to have bad breath. There are a number of different causes of bad breath some of which are due to the following factors.

Poor Oral Hygiene - The mouth is teeming with bacteria which keep the mouth healthy but if the bacteria are allowed to build up on teeth, the tongue or gums as a result of poor oral hygiene then this can cause plaque, gum disease and tooth decay

Food and Drink - Many people have experienced bad breath after consuming strong-smelling food and drink or spicy food. The most common food and drink that can cause bad breath are garlic, onions, curry, coffee and alcohol. Protein rich foods such as red meat, fish and cheese can also contribute to bad breath. 

Smoking - Smoking can directly cause bad breath but it can also cause gum disease which in turn leads to bad breath

Dieting - Crash diets or low carbohydrate diets can also cause bad breath because when the body is starved or does not receive the right amount of nutrients it begins to break down fat in the body which produces chemicals called ketones that can be smelt on the breath. This gives a characteristic "pear drop" odour.

Dry Mouth - Bad breath can occur when the mouth's cleansing mechanism stops working effectively because of the flow of saliva is reduced. The most common form of dry mouth is "morning breath" when breath smells stale after a nights sleep.

Medical Conditions - Bad breath can be a symptom of another medical condition but this is rare. Some of the conditions that can cause bad breath include nose, throat and respiratory tract infections e.g tonsillitis, bronchitis or sinusitis, Un-managed diabetes can result in ketones being smelt on the breath and Gastritis e.g. inflammation of the lining of the stomach or food re-flux.

If you feel that the bad breath is a result of an underlying medical condition or medication then the patient should be referred to the pharmacist for advice as it may require further investigation.