Dry Mouth: A Common Culprit of Chronic Bad 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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From Mouthwash to Diet Changes: Halitosis Treatment Methods That Actually Work
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To prevent bad breath related to poor oral hygiene, it is important to maintain a regular oral care routine. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily to remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth, and using mouthwash to kill bacteria and freshen your breath. It is also recommended to visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and check-ups.
Practicing stress-reducing techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga, can help alleviate stress and anxiety and improve breath. Additionally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep can also help reduce stress levels and improve overall oral health.
A diet high in sugar can cause bad breath because of how sugars interact with bacteria that’s already in your mouth. These bacteria feed on sugars to cause bad breath.
Small tonsil stones can be removed at home using a cotton swab or the back of your toothbrush. Gently apply pressure to the tonsil to push the stone out of the crevice.
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.
A dentist will also examine your mouth for any signs of gum disease or other oral health issues that may be causing bad breath. They may recommend additional treatments or procedures to address these issues and improve your breath odor.
Sometimes certain medications are the cause of smell or taste disorders, and improvement occurs when that medicine is stopped or changed. Although certain medications can cause chemosensory problems, others particularly anti-allergy drugs seem to improve the senses of taste and smell. Some patients, notably those with serious respiratory infections or seasonal allergies, regain their smell or taste simply by waiting for their illness to run its course. In many cases, nasal obstructions, such as polyps, can be removed to restore airflow to the receptor area and can correct the loss of smell and taste. Occasionally, chemosenses return to normal just as spontaneously as they disappeared. Quick Links News Physician Portal CME Calendar Online Orientation Careers Take Charge of Your Health Publications Pay Your Bill Vendors Foundation - Ways to Give Residency ValleyWay MyChart Institutional Review Board Practices Primary Care Offices Specialists Care Offices Walk-in Care Services Urology Cancer Heart & Vascular Women & Children Neuroscience Orthopedics Bariatric Weight Loss Program Physical Rehabilitation Other Services Patients & Visitors A Message From the Joint Commission Notice of Privacy Practices Patient Rights & Responsibilities Community Education Programs Advance Directives Support Groups Locations Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital Rehabilitation Center Behavioral Health Care Bladen County Hospital Hoke Hospital
An antiseptic mouthwash can help eliminate bacteria that cause bad breath. For dry mouth, your dentist might recommend artificial saliva. Ask your dentist about which product is best for you.
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.
People with ill-maintained oral hygiene are at a prime risk of halitosis. Older people or patients with neurological diseases with poor coordination of hand and wrist movements can develop halitosis since they cannot maintain their oral hygiene. Dehydration, diabetes, and other diseases that reduce the body’s water content can also be risk factors. Patients with gastric diseases such as H.pylori infection or gastro-esophageal reflux might also develop halitosis if their primary disease is not treated.
Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, yeast infections of the mouth, and cavities.
Doctors may recommend antibiotics. It helps lower the bacteria count, leading to tonsil stones development. However, the biofilms or hardened structures of the stones can resist antibiotics.