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What are the causes of bad breath?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Why is my breath worse in the morning if I brush my teeth at night? I am a 30-year-old woman with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and I maintain detailed symptom logs, so I am confident this correlation is real and not just in my head. When I skip brushing at night, my morning breath and dry mouth are actually better than when I do brush. I do not believe cutting down to once-a-day brushing is the answer, but I can not imagine why following suggested hygiene schedules would produce negative results.

Kindly help.

Answered by Dr. Achanta Krishna Swaroop

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Krishna Swaroop Achanta is a Dental Surgeon specializing in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology. His expertise includes reconstructive and cosmetic surgery of the face, management of facial trauma, and treatment of conditions affecting the oral cavity, jaws, head, and neck. He is dedicated to delivering advanced dental and surgical care with precision and compassion.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

You need to identify what is causing bad breath. Halitosis or bad breath, is a common effect in the oral cavity due to various reasons, including systemic or underlying health conditions or undetected gum disease. Sometimes, even though your diet is perfect, chromogenic foods have some impact on causing bad breath. Also, other factors like medical conditions and dental health can be associated with it. You can check your dental health through the following observations:

  1. Do you notice any decaying teeth or gum bleeding on brushing?

  2. Any metallic taste or foul taste after eating food?

Even though medications may not impact oral health, some medicines can cause foul breath. Warm salt water rinsing and regular nighttime mouthwashing with mouthwashes like Chlorhexidine can help reduce symptoms. However, a detailed evaluation of dental health is necessary.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Sneha Kannan
Published At July 26, 2025
Reviewed At July 28, 2025

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Krishna Swaroop Achanta is a Dental Surgeon specializing in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology. His expertise includes reconstructive and cosmetic surgery of the face, management of facial trauma, and treatment of conditions affecting the oral cavity, jaws, head, and neck. He is dedicated to delivering advanced dental and surgical care with precision and compassion.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sneha Kannan is a skilled Dental Surgeon with expertise in providing general dental care, including scaling, fillings, and preventive treatments. She does oral surgery procedures such as extractions and minor surgical interventions. She does procedures in restorative dentistry, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. She is an expert in doing endodontic treatments such as root canal therapy. She is well-versed in doing procedures in cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening and smile correction. She can provide pediatric dental care for children’s oral health and preventive treatments. She promotes oral hygiene awareness and preventive dental practices.  

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Krishna Swaroop Achanta is a Dental Surgeon specializing in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology. His expertise includes reconstructive and cosmetic surgery of the face, management of facial trauma, and treatment of conditions affecting the oral cavity, jaws, head, and neck. He is dedicated to delivering advanced dental and surgical care with precision and compassion.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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