There’s no worse feeling than discovering that you have bad breath, and it seems to get worse as we age.

The good news is that there’s no direct correlation between aging and halitosis, the fancy term for bad breath. The bad news is, there may be age-related issues that cause it.

Dentures that don’t fit correctly or are not cleaned often can collect food and bacteria, which can lead to bad breath.

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a condition that allows dead cells to accumulate in your mouth, creating bad breath. Most xerostomia is related to medications taken by older adults rather than to the effects of aging. More than 400 medicines can affect the salivary glands.

Other causes of bad breath:

• Food stuck in your teeth will decay and give off an odor.

• Some foods, such as onions, garlic, spices and herbs, contain substances that create bad breath when digested.

• Alcohol itself is odorless, but many alcoholic beverages contain ingredients that leave a telltale odor.

• Gum diseases and canker sores

• Diseases of the lung, kidney, liver, stomach and pancreas

• Sinus infections, strep throat, tonsillitis and mononucleosis

• Smoking dries the mouth and causes an odor of its own

• Severe dieting

How can you prevent bad breath?

Find the right mouthwash

Mouthwashes and breath-fresheners of all kinds mask odors for a while, but they are not preventives. Many antiseptic mouth rinses, however, have been accepted by the American Dental Association for their therapeutic benefits and also have breath-freshening properties. These rinses kill the germs that cause bad breath instead of simply hiding halitosis. 

You can also

• Brush your teeth after you eat.

• If you wear a denture, clean it at least once a day.

• Floss daily or use another interdental cleaner, such as a high-power electric toothbrush.

• Brush your tongue, which can collect bacteria and food particles.

• Drink water to moisten your mouth.

• Chew sugarless gum—it stimulates saliva production and collects debris.

• Buy a new toothbrush several times annually.

• Get a dental examination.

It might be all in your head

At times, most of us worry about having bad breath. It’s no surprise that there are so many products out there to combat the problem. But those of us who worry about it are usually doing something to prevent it. Bad breath is found more often in people who neither know nor care that they have it.

There is a psychiatric condition called “delusional halitosis,” which is linked to depression. Several sources report the story of one patient with this delusion who used up to a tube of toothpaste every four days.

Another study reported that the people who try to smell their own breath tend to think their breath smells worse than it does. If this bothers you, ask a family member or good friend to give you an accurate assessment.