What Are the Causes of Bad Breath in the Elderly?

Bad breath is an issue that can plague all ages, but is especially noticed among the elderly. For some older people, bad breath is a simple indication of a lapse in continual oral hygiene. If you're a senior who has maintained your basic dental hygiene, bad breath can be a symptom of other problems or just indicate your body's changes.

Dry Mouth

• Saliva protects the mouth from harmful bacteria by washing away bad bacteria and food particles. Saliva also naturally contains immune cells that help keep the mouth healthy. Regardless of age, no one produces saliva while they sleep which is why everyone wakes up with bad smelling "morning breath." However, as people age, less saliva is produced which causes a persistently dry mouth. Dry mouth prevents the elderly from naturally washing away food particles or bacteria. As the bacteria stays in the mouth it may release volatile sulfur compounds which add to foul breath.

Dentures

• Elderly people who have lost their natural teeth often use dentures, or false teeth that fit over the empty gums, as a replacement. Just like real teeth, dentures can contribute to bad breath if they do not receive proper cleanings. Food particles can slip between the dentures and soft gum tissue or become infected with the same oral bacteria that rests on real teeth. Cleaning dentures after every meal, thoroughly brushing them twice a day and disinfecting them in either a store-bought or homemade solution during the night should help denture related halitosis.

Illness

• Bad breath may not come from an unhealthy mouth. In an interview with the "St. Petersburg Times" one dentist relayed the story of a patient with healthy teeth and gums but breath that smelled like nail polish remover. This particular smell was an indication that the patient was diabetic. Mouth and threat infections, kidney failure, heart disease, throat cancer, lung cancer and liver disease may also produce foul smelling breath. Even mild sickness such as the common cold or a sinus infection may produce bad breath due to nasal mucus entering the mouth.

Medications

• Elderly people who use a myriad of medications may be more prone to experiencing bad breath. The majority of medications produce bad breath because of the dry mouth side effect. Blood pressure medication, anti-Parkinson agents, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, decongestants, diuretics and sedatives all lead to dry mouth. Because elderly people already experience dry mouth, this can worsen the problem. Some medications directly cause bad breath, although this should be temporary. Elderly people who have undergone surgery will have bad breath during immediate recovery due to the anesthetic agents.