Stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on oral health and breath. When we are stressed or anxious, our bodies produce more cortisol, a stress hormone that can reduce saliva production. This can result in dry mouth and contribute to bad breath.
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We recommend our Premier patients in Gilbert your first course of action is to grab a Q-tip and carefully and precisely remove the tonsil stones. You can do this by taking the Q-tip and applying pressure to the area around the tonsil stone to pop them right out. If this doesn’t work then you should try to dig them out. But do this very carefully because you don’t want your tonsils to start bleeding. This can be very tedious especially if you have a bad gag reflex.
After oral hygiene issues, stomach-related problems happen to be the second most reported cause behind foul smells in the mouth.
If you find that your gag reflex is too strong for this method, you may want to use a mouth-numbing spray Chloraseptic before you go in with the swab. I’ve also written about other methods here.
Academy of General Dentistry: "What is Halitosis?" "Does a Smaller Waist Mean Smelly Breath?"
- Yogurt: Yogurt contains probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can help balance the oral microbiome and reduce bad breath.
International Dental Health Foundation: "Frequently Asked Questions: Bad Breath."
Clearing the Air: Understanding and Treating Bad Breath from the Throat
Dry mouth can also contribute to the formation of tonsil stones. When your mouth is dry, there is less saliva to help wash away bacteria and food particles. This can lead to the buildup of debris in the tonsil crevices.
Tonsil stones are generally harmless. But people still prefer to get it removed because it might cause them discomfort and make them smell bad—treatments for tonsil stones range from home remedies to medical procedures.
What Are Tonsil Stones?Tonsil Stone CausesTonsil Stone SymptomsTonsil Stone DiagnosisTonsil Stone Treatment and RemovalTonsil Stone Home RemediesTonsil Stone ComplicationsTonsil Stone Prevention
What Are Tonsil Stones?Tonsil Stone CausesTonsil Stone SymptomsTonsil Stone DiagnosisTonsil Stone Treatment and RemovalTonsil Stone Home RemediesTonsil Stone ComplicationsTonsil Stone Prevention
The importance of hydration in preventing halitosis
If your dentist has ruled out any oral problems that might cause a chronic bad breath, it is best to see you doctor for an evaluation too. This may indicate infection somewhere else in your body and can be a sign of a range of conditions like diabetes, strep throat, tonsilitis, respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, HIV, digestive system ailments such as ref-lux or liver and kidney problems.
At-home removal. You might be able to remove tonsil stones by scraping gently with water picks or swabs.Saltwater gargles. Gargling with warm, salty water may help ease the pain of tonsillitis and help remove stones.Tonsil Stone Complications
If you have a cavity, it is the perfect place for food to get stuck and bacteria to build up.