As we said before, bad breath can be a sign that things are really wrong in your body. It can mean, for example, that your kidneys are failing. Your kidneys are supposed to filter waste out of your blood, but if they aren’t working properly, it can build up. This can make your breath smell like ammonia, fish, or even urine.
Clearing the Air: Understanding and Treating Bad Breath from the Throat
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Bad breath is a concern for most of us. It creates worry in social situations, and can make it hard to feel comfortable talking to people. You never want to get close to personal or business acquaintances if you can’t be sure of your breath.
Your liver is also supposed to filter out toxins. And like the kidneys, when it’s not doing its job, the result can be a toxic buildup that you can smell. The type of breath related to liver disease is called fetor hepaticus, and it’s usually described as a musty smell. If you have this type of bad breath, you need to talk to a doctor.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress to periodontal disease, which affects the bone and gums that keep teeth in place. Over time, plaque buildup causes weakened gums and bone loss, leading to spaces around the teeth that need professional cleaning.
The stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria, combined with other factors, result in the same. A physician can prescribe antibiotics to deal with the bacteria after checking the symptoms.
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.
Halitosis itself is a symptom of an underlying problem. If you feel a foul odor on your breath when you exhale, look out for the possible causes inside and outside your oral cavity. Another way to check whether your breath has an odor or not is to lick your wrist and let the saliva dry. After a few minutes, smell your wrist to figure out if you have bad breath or not. Since most of the causes arise within the oral cavity, the patient might also present with plaque deposits on the tongue and around teeth, redness and bleeding from gums, and multiple carious lesions.
Conclusion: Maintaining Fresh Breath for Optimal Health
An upper respiratory infection is a contagious infection of the structures of the upper respiratory tract, which includes the sinuses, nasal passages, pharynx, and larynx. Common causes of an upper respiratory infection include bacteria and viruses such as rhinoviruses, group A streptococci, influenza, respiratory syncytial, whooping cough, diphtheria, and Epstein-Barr. Examples of symptoms of upper respiratory infection include sneezing, sore throat, cough, fever, and nasal congestion. Treatment of upper respiratory infections are based upon the cause. Generally, viral infections are treated symptomatically with over-the-counter (OTC) medication and home remedies.
Along with bad breath, other symptoms of tonsilloliths are ear pain, swollen tonsils, an accumulation of white-colored debris, as well as trouble swallowing.
Diet plays a significant role in the development of bad breath. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contain sulfur compounds that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and released through the lungs, resulting in bad breath. Other foods, such as coffee and alcohol, can also contribute to bad breath by drying out the mouth.
Lifestyle changes for maintaining fresh breath
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Natural Halitosis Remedies: Home Remedies for Fresher Breath
If you experience regular bad breath, but aren’t sure of the cause, we can help you narrow it down. In most cases, we can treat the cause. You’ll enjoy not just fresher breath, but improved general and overall health.