Even with all of these causes of bad breath, most bad breath is due to a simple problem: poor oral hygiene. If you keep your teeth and mouth clean, food particles can stay in your mouth and allow a sticky buildup of bacteria known as plaque to form on your teeth. The uneven surfaces on your tongue and tonsils are especially good at trapping food and bacteria that can cause bad breath.
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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.
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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.
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If so, avoid foods like spinach, peppercorns, sesame seeds, popcorn, and other foods that can easily become stuck in your mouth. Check out my article on tonsil stone diet tips here.
4. Freshening agents: Toothpastes that contain ingredients like baking soda or menthol can help freshen breath and leave your mouth feeling clean and refreshed.
Saliva plays a crucial role in the functioning of the mouth. It acts as a lubricant and helps in flushing food as well as bacteria. Lack of saliva results in a medical condition called a dry mouth. It promotes bacteria growth, further creating an unpleasant smell. There are several reasons behind the reduction in saliva flow. Allergy to certain medicines, dehydration, consumption too much of alcohol, and mouth breathing may cause dry mouth.
Even with all of these causes of bad breath, most bad breath is due to a simple problem: poor oral hygiene. If you keep your teeth and mouth clean, food particles can stay in your mouth and allow a sticky buildup of bacteria known as plaque to form on your teeth. The uneven surfaces on your tongue and tonsils are especially good at trapping food and bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Your dentist or periodontist may tell you to use an antimicrobial mouth rinse. You may also be told to brush your tongue gently each time you brush your teeth. This will help remove odor-causing bacteria.
Halitosis, better known as severe bad breath, can cause an embarrassing social problem, but it can also be a sign of an underlying medical problem.
Diabetes occurs when your body cannot produce insulin, which supplies your cells with the fuel they need in the form of glucose. When your body cannot burn sugar, it burns fat instead, which produces ketones that build up in urine and blood.
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.
Regular dental check-ups play a crucial role in preventing tonsil stones and halitosis. Dentists are trained to identify the signs and symptoms of tonsil stones and can provide appropriate treatment or referral to a specialist if necessary.
Gum, mints, and other quick fixes are just temporary solutions to occasional bad breath. If you’re dealing with true halitosis due to decay, illness, or any other reason, you shouldn’t stop at simply masking the problem. Dr. Edwards is an experienced dentist with over thirty years of experience treating families in Memphis and the surrounding areas. If you suffer from halitosis, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with him at our East Memphis or Midtown office to find out the underlying cause of the problem. Once we know what the issue is, we can offer a variety of treatment options to get rid of your chronic bad breath for good!