Oral infections can entail bad breath

bad breath is not always related to food, beverages, smoking or poor dental hygiene. Sometimes an oral infection in the mouth can release odors into the airway.

Since they are difficult to treat with at-home medical supplies, cuts or scrapes to the tongue, gums, roof of the mouth or insides of the cheeks have the potential to get infected. If left untreated, such an infection can spread, ultimately inflaming a large portion of the mouth and giving off a rank, damp smell.

Similarly, the site of a tooth extraction may become infected and form an abscess, according to Dental Health Magazine. Abscesses are large pockets of pus that form in heavily infected wounds and, as such, can cause very powerful breath. Such an infection can require immediate medical attention.

Oral candidiasis is another infection that can lead to serious halitosis. Also called thrush, candidiasis forms when yeast grows out of control on the tongue, forming a noticeable white coating on the tongue. It can cause a burning sensation when food is eaten. Thrush also commonly leaves an itching sensation on the tongue and emits a sour funk, which can lead to seriously bad breath.

Possibly the most common oral infection, however, is simple gingivitis, or infected gums caused by poor dental care. To prevent oral infections, most dental hygienists recommend brushing two or three times daily and flossing, a regimen to which specialty breath fresheners may be added in order to moisten the mouth and eliminate the odors associated with bad breath.