Are you worried that your lunch caused your afternoon bad breath? Although most people realize that certain foods can have an impact on their kisser, the fact of the matter is that there are other factors that can affect how your breath smells. Here are three strange causes of bad breath, and what you might be able to do about it. 1: Bacterial Buildup on your Tongue As you eat, your mouth, tongue, and teeth work hard to pulverize and mix your food into a digestible paste.