What causes bad breath? The complete guide

Bad breath, or halitosis, is almost always due to a single underlying mechanism: bacteria in the mouth breaking down proteins and releasing sulfur compounds as a byproduct. What varies from person to person is what feeds those bacteria and how quickly they multiply.

The main causes, in order of frequency: Poor removal of food residue and plaque (especially on the tongue), dry mouth (less saliva means less natural elimination of bacteria), certain foods like garlic, onion, and coffee, tobacco and alcohol use, and less commonly, sinus issues or digestive factors. About 85-90% of bad breath cases originate in the mouth itself, not elsewhere in the body.

Why brushing your teeth more often isn't enough: Most people already brush their teeth regularly, yet bad breath persists — because the toothbrush acts on the teeth, not the surface of the tongue, where most of the odor-causing bacteria live.

The role of Frelopop: Frelopop was built on this very insight: to act directly on bacteria and dryness, with probiotics to help rebalance the oral microbiome and xylitol to support saliva and reduce food for bacteria, rather than simply masking the odor for a few minutes.

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