It is indeed a mystery why bad breath and halitosis are separate words when both are in fact describing the very same condition. Much the same issue occurs with gum disease and periodontal disease and for a very similar reason: one term is used in general conversations while the other is preferred by the medical community. Bad breath is the general term and halitosis is the word used in medical circles but there is no difference between the two. In both cases, there are some very basic causes:

• Food particles left in the oral cavity
• An infection of the mouth, throat, or teeth
• Gum Disease—or if you prefer, gum disease!
• Reduced Salivation
• Acid Reflux
• Low Carbohydrate Diet

Even without the presence of an infection, there are always bacteria present in the mouth. It is these bacteria that form Volatile Sulfur Compounds, or VSC’s. These compounds are the actual causes of bad breath. You can typically get rid of bad breath by simply brushing and flossing. Although rotting food may be the cause of bad breath, this is not typical because particles are rarely in the mouth long enough to cause major problems. In most cases, halitosis or bad breath is the result of an infection in your mouth.
Unless the source of infection is either removed or treated, no permanent halitosis remedy is possible. When no infection can be found, then you might want to try brushing the tongue as bacteria may be forming VSC’s on its surface and causing the bad breath problem. However, this is typically a cause of mild halitosis. If you are suffering from chronic or severe bad breath problems, an infection is far more likely.

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