Academy of General Dentistry: "What is Halitosis?" "Does a Smaller Waist Mean Smelly Breath?"
In addition to masking bad breath, chewing sugar-free gum helps protect your teeth and gums between meals. Teeth are more at risk of an acid attack directly after you’ve eaten. Chewing gum after a meal helps reduce acid and the harm it may cause to your teeth. It prompts the mouth to produce more saliva, which is the mouth’s natural defense against acid.
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Why Flossing is Crucial for Oral Health and Fresh Breath
The Role of Diet in Causing Bad Breath
There are many causes of bad breath, just as there are many sources of bacteria in the mouth. Halitosis may be caused by the following.
Medical Treatments for Tonsil Stones and Halitosis
On the contrary, pathologic halitosis is caused by oral diseases that promote the growth of bacteria, leading to chronic bad breath. Although other factors may also contribute, periodontal diseases, such as gingivitis or periodontitis, are the most common oral diseases that are pathological causes of halitosis.
Chronic sinus issues can also increase the risk of tonsil stones. When you have sinus problems, your sinuses produce more mucus, which can drip down the back of your throat and contribute to the formation of tonsil stones.
Chewing on herbs such as parsley and mint can also help freshen breath. These herbs contain natural compounds that can neutralize odors and provide a refreshing scent.
Those who have bad breath and have just started a new medication or who have had recent dental surgery should consult their healthcare provider.
From Minty Mouthwash to Tongue Scrapers: The Best Products for Fighting Halitosis
Understanding Halitosis: What Causes Bad Breath?
Those who would like to professionally check the quality of their breath can do so with a halimeter. This is a device that resembles a breathalyzer in appearance and operation. All you have to do is blow air into it and it will give you a clear indication of how much undesirable volatile sulfur compounds are in your breath.
If you smoke or use oral tobacco products, you may experience frequent bad breath. All types of tobacco products can cause bad breath, but they can also lead to much more serious oral health issues. Apart from leaving your mouth smelling like an ashtray, they damage the gum tissue and cause gum disease. If you’ve been using tobacco products for any amount of time, the team at Scott Edwards DDS can check for warning signs.
A dry socket is a potential complication that can occur when a blood clot in the gums becomes dislodged after a tooth extraction. Dry socket signs and symptoms include pain, mouth odor, and unpleasant taste in the mouth. A dentist may treat a dry socket with analgesic dressing. Over-the-counter pain medications can also relieve symptoms. A dry socket usually heals within 7 days. Avoiding smoking, drinking with a straw, and vigorous rinsing and spitting may help prevent the formation of dry socket.
Recognizing halitosis itself is not difficult, because this affliction gives us symptoms in the form of an unpleasant odor released from the mouth. So, in order to determine whether you suffer from halitosis, it is enough to perform the so-called “smell test”. This can be done, for example, by inhaling the smell of the toothbrush we use to brush our teeth, or by touching the back of our tongue with our fingers and then checking their smell.
These foods can also help push out the tonsil stones from the folds in your skin.