Age can cause bad breath

While wine gets better with age, breath unfortunately tends to get worse. There are multiple causes of age-related halitosis, many of which are difficult to avoid. However, treating bad breath caused by ageing is relatively simple.

According to the manual Clinical Gastroenterology by Nicholas Talley and Christopher Martin, halitosis can be caused by the normal process of ageing. One age-related cause of of oral odor is dentures. False teeth, bridges and dentures can collect bacteria, particularly if they are not regularly cleaned. These microorganisms emit sulfurous compounds like hydrogen sulfide, which give bad breath its pungent smell.

Another agent of halitosis that increases with age is dry mouth. The National Institute of Aging reports that as people get older, their salivary glands produce less moisture. They also may be on more medications, some of which can cause cotton mouth. A dry palate allows anaerobic bacterial colonies to grow very quickly, since saliva natural cleanses the mouth.

Finally, tooth decay and gingivitis tend to be more problematic with age. Both of these dental problems can give the breath a foul tinge, both by emitting their own odor and by encouraging bacterial growth.

Rather than waiting to be told that they have bad breath, individuals may want to rinse with a specialty breath freshening product as a preventive measure.