If you love garlic, onions, or other pungent foods, you know there’s a tradeoff. You can enjoy your garlicky Alfredo sauce, your French onion soup or a spicy curry now, and expect to experience malodorous breath in the future.
Overall, ignoring tonsil stones and halitosis can have a significant impact on both oral health and overall well-being.
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Smell and taste belong to our chemical sensing system (chemosensation). The complicated process of smelling and tasting begins when molecules released by the substances around us stimulate special nerve cells in the nose, mouth, or throat. These cells transmit messages to the brain, where specific smells or tastes are identified. Olfactory (smell nerve) cells are stimulated by the odors around us, the fragrance from a rose, the smell of bread baking. These nerve cells are found in a tiny patch of tissue high up in the nose, and they connect directly to the brain. Gustatory (taste nerve) cells are clustered in the taste buds of the mouth and throat. They react to food or drink mixed with saliva. Many of the small bumps that can be seen on the tongue contain taste buds. These surface cells send taste information to nearby nerve fibers, which send messages to the brain.
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Laura Clark is a writer and editor based in Pittsburgh. She's a blogger with Smart News and a senior editor at Pitt magazine. Filed Under: Advertisements, Cool Finds, Health, Marketing Smart News History Science Innovation Arts & Culture Travel At The Smithsonian Podcast Photos Video Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian.com Smithsonian Store Smithsonian Journeys Smithsonian Channel Smithsonian Books Smithsonian Membership About Smithsonian Contact Us Advertising RSS Member Services Sustainability Terms of Use Privacy Statement Cookie Policy Advertising Notice © 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Privacy Statement Cookie Policy Terms of Use Advertising Notice Your Privacy Rights Cookie Settings
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UPMC: “What Are Tonsil Stones (Tonsilloliths)? Tonsil Stone Symptoms and Treatment.”
If you suffer from chronic bad breath, you don’t have to live your life worrying about making a bad impression. At Scott Edwards DDS, we’re committed to helping you use your smile to get the most out of life. We can help determine the cause of bad breath, and what kind of treatment you might need. If bad breath is a sign of a more serious health problem, we’ll help you determine the best next steps and either begin a treatment plan or recommend a specialist who can provide treatment.
If you start feeling flu-like symptoms, you may be getting a sinus infection. Visit a medical professional as soon as possible so you can receive antibiotics if you need them. Nasal washes can also help reduce the mucus produced from the nose to the throat.
Halitosis that is caused by a persistent dry mouth is due to a lack of saliva. Because your saliva washes away the leftover food particles that can make your breath smell, an inadequate amount of it can mean those particles stay put. Drinking water is an easy way of mimicking saliva, and will help to rinse away the debris that leads to bad breath. Keep a water bottle with you whenever possible so you can sip on water throughout the day to keep bad breath at bay
Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for preventing bad breath. Regular brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping help remove food particles and bacteria from the mouth, reducing the risk of bad breath. Brushing should be done at least twice a day, using a toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride toothpaste.
The effectiveness of mouthwash in treating bad breath
While eating any type of food can lead to bad breath, as the bits of food end up becoming a meal for the bacteria that call your mouth home, garlic tends to be the worst offender. In part, that’s because garlic contains sulfur compounds that get absorbed into the bloodstream and that take some time to break down.
It was also marketed to dentists as a way to kill germs in the mouth, but no one paid much attention until the 1920s. That's when, as Inglis-Arkell writes, the owner of the company, Jordan Wheat Lambert, and his son, Gerard, came up with a marketing plan that would forever change the dental aisle. The key was an old Latin phrase that had long dropped out of general usage and which, according to writers over at Cracked, meant “unpleasant breath.” A 1928 ad for Listerine reads in part: “No matter how charming you may be or how fond of you your friends are, you can not expect them to put up with halitosis (unpleasant breath) forever. They may be nice to you—but it is an effort.” Bettmann/CORBIS
If self-care measures do not improve your bad breath, it is recommended to seek professional help from a dentist or healthcare provider. They can conduct a thorough examination to determine the underlying cause of your halitosis and recommend appropriate treatment options.
- Sugary foods: Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that can contribute to bad breath.
Bad breath can be a side effect of diabetes. Because the body might have a hard time processing sugars for energy, the body can try to break down more fats, which leads to the production of ketones. The smell is similar to eating a low-carb diet, but unlike a low carb diet, diabetes is likely to lead to a toxic buildup of ketones if not properly treated.