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Chronic halitosis (chronic bad breath) has multiple causes. While the symptom may seem more of an embarrassment and a annoyance it can occasionally be a sign of serious or systemic disease.

Chronic halitosis is a condition in which a person produces an offensive odor from their oral or nasal regions and they’re unable to eliminate it through normal oral hygiene techniques, such as flossing or brushing.

Bad breath that continues for a long period of time is often referred to as chronic halitosis. It’s a condition that has been around for a very long time, but it is only in last century that we have started to may much attention to it, and only in the last decade that we have made any real progress in finding ways to deal with the problem.

Chronic Halitosis Causes

The most common cause of chronic halitosis (chronic bad breath) is an oral condition such as bacterial build up in the mouth through gingivitis, a cavity, or abscess.

Most halitosis sufferers have no idea that they have a bad breath problem unless somebody informs them. It creates social barriers for the people who suffer from it, and many people are seeking a halitosis cure.

Seeking a halitosis treatment might start at your dentist first to check for possible gum disease, infections or tooth decay.

Halitosis may be normal or physiologic. This would be typically seen in so called “morning breath” which results from enzymatic breakdown of cellular proteins and amino acids. Other physiologic origins of halitosis include hunger, dehydration, or it may be related to the ingestion of certain foods.

Nasal or throat conditions may cause halitosis. Common conditions include sinusitis; chronic nasal airway obstruction (such as which might occur with a deviated nasal septum) with secondary drying effect in the throat lining; chronic tonsillitis particularly when associated with deep crevices known as crypts which accumulate partially digested food; other inflammatory conditions associated with injury to the mucosal lining (ex canker sores); or tumors of the mucosal lining. These conditions generally are also readily evident on physical examination.

Some more chronic halitosis causes may be:

• Foods high in protein and odorous foods can cause chronic halitosis.
• Dental cavities, tooth decay, dental abscess and gum disease can also be cause of chronic halitosis (bad breath).
• Tobacco smoking and chewing
• Not proper or rare teeth brushing and flossing
• Alcohol and alcohol-based mouthwashes can cause chronic halitosis
• Dry mouth

There are also a number of medical problems that are associated with halitosis such as kidney and liver failure. You should see your doctor if you think this is a concern. Occasionally halitosis is a sign of systemic illness. Examples of this include uremia (kidney failure), a complication of diabetes known as diabetic ketoacidosis, or liver failure. These conditions would generally be associated with other more serious symptoms.

To cure halitosis that is temporary in nature, there a few things you can do right now that will help such as brushing your teeth and using mouthwash after eating meals or snacks. Floss at least once a day in order to remove decaying food that often becomes trapped in crevices between teeth.