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The main symptom of halitosis is a bad odor from the mouth. The odor can be worse in the morning or after smoking, drinking coffee, or eating certain foods, such as garlic.
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You can tell you have tonsil stones if you can see the white deposits trapped in the crevices of your tonsils. Other times, you might notice them when they come out, “appearing” suddenly in your throat or mouth. They are usually white and can be soft and/or gritty.
The most common cause of chronic severe bad breath is a dental infection. We do not mean a simple overgrowth of oral bacteria due to a buildup of plaque. That is what we discussed in the previous section. We mean an active dental disease, like decay (cavities) or gum disease.
Since these bacteria cause a foul odor, killing them with salty, acidic, and oxygen-based rinsing agents can significantly reduce the bad smell and potentially even remove the stone.
Foods and drinks that can help freshen breath:
Sugar-free mints won’t cure halitosis, but they’re a great tool to have when you need a fast way to freshen your breath! Sugar-free gum is another easy, fast way to get rid of your bad breath. Chewing gum will also stimulate your salivary flow, which is especially helpful if the odor is due to a dry mouth. You can use mints and gum as frequently as necessary, as long as you choose a sugar-free variety. Gum and mints that contain sugar can contribute to tooth decay and other dental problems.
Some foods, such as garlic, may cause temporary bad breath with no quick fixes. Garlic gets absorbed into your bloodstream and the odor remains until your body has process the food.
To guarantee the enjoyment of adequate oral health, it is advisable to visit the dentist frequently, since the development of an oral pathology can trigger the appearance of other aggravating elements in the mouth, such as halitosis.
Certain bacteria on the back of the tongue can interact with amino acids in foods and make smelly sulfur compounds.
Halitosis, also known as bad breath, corresponds to an unpleasant and uncomfortable smell that comes off the mouth.
It's wise to brush those gnashers regularly to avoid whiffy breath, even if you're a hippo at London Zoo (Credit: Getty Images)
Cough: You might discover that you have a tonsil stone when you cough. Coughing with some energy may help in loosening the stone.
In turn, we can divide the causes of halitosis or bad breath into two categories: Non-pathological and pathological.
Medications can lead to bad breath for two reasons. In some cases, the way your body breaks down the medicine leads to the production of odorous chemicals. In other cases, medications contribute to dry mouth, which can make bad breath more likely.
[iii] Aylıkcı BU, Çolak H. Halitosis: From diagnosis to management. Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine. 2013;4(1):14-23. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.107255. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3633265/
There are potential causes outside of the mouth that can be causing your bad breath. This may include heartburn, gastrointestinal illnesses, uncontrolled diabetes, kidney disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, tonsillitis, sinus infection, and other serious illnesses. In addition, certain medications can contribute to dry mouth or release chemicals that cause bad breath.