The net result is that conditions for bacterial growth are enhanced while the neutralization of bacterial waste products is reduced. Xerostomia can be a side effect of the medication a person is taking. As a person ages they may find mouth dryness to become more of a problem. It seems that with age our salivary glands tend to work less effectively, and the composition of our saliva changes also. Both of these factors result in less effective salivary cleansing and buffering.
Periodontal disease is a causative factor of bad breath.
Ask any dentist, the odor of gum disease can be so distinctive that a dentist can often correctly anticipate the presence of gum problems even before beginning their examination. Periodontal disease is second only to the accumulation of bacteria on the tongue as being the most common fundamental source of a person's bad breath. Since periodontal disease is usually more of a problem for person's over the age of 35 or so, the older we get the more likely that the source of our bad breath is related to conditions associated with our gums. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection located in the tissues which surround teeth. Advanced forms of this disease can result in serious damage to the bone which holds the teeth in place.