Visit your dentist on a regular basis. Regular checkups can find problems, such as gum disease, infections, and dry mouth. If you have bad breath and the dentist can’t find a cause, you may be referred to your primary healthcare provider for more follow-up.
But it could also be more serious than that. Bad breath can be an indicator that something is seriously wrong with your health. But how can you tell the difference? Here’s a guide to some of the causes of bad breath, and how serious they might be.
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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.
After oral hygiene issues, stomach-related problems happen to be the second most reported cause behind foul smells in the mouth.
The Role of Diet in Preventing Bad Breath
Managing chronic disease-related bad breath involves addressing the underlying condition. This may involve making lifestyle changes, such as managing blood sugar levels in diabetes or following a specific diet for kidney or liver disease. It is important to work closely with your healthcare provider to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
Another great way you can try to remove them is you start using mouthwash in the morning and right after you eat before bed. This way any food particles stuck in there loosen up or just fall right out. Another thing you can do is gargle with some warm salt water. This is a great way to make loose tonsil stones fall right out of your tonsils and of course, you just spit them into the sink. You suggest grabbing some luke warm water and add enough salt that it is useful but not super unpleasant to have in your mouth. Then gargle to try to knock the bacteria out. You can do this as many times as you want but we recommend three times.
Tonsil stones are risk-free buildup that will go away on their own. However, the duration of tonsil stones can vary from person to person. They may go away or melt on their own in a short period, or they can also stay for weeks if they are deep in the throat and bacteria continue to grow on them. Besides, if proper oral hygiene is not performed, it may last for years and lead to a more serious problem, such as tonsillitis.
Academy of General Dentistry: "What is Halitosis?" "Does a Smaller Waist Mean Smelly Breath?"
Drinking green tea can also be beneficial for combating bad breath. Green tea contains polyphenols, which have been shown to have antimicrobial properties that can help kill bacteria in the mouth.
Ear, Nose and Throat Journal: “Coblation Cryptolysis to Treat Tonsil Stones: A Retrospective Case Series.”
Regular dental checkups are crucial in maintaining fresh breath and overall oral health. During a dental cleaning, a dental hygienist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth, which can contribute to bad breath. They will also polish your teeth to remove any surface stains.
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This condition is often a key part of halitosis. When your mouth doesn’t make enough saliva, your mouth can’t clean itself. It can’t remove debris and particles left behind by food. Dry mouth may be caused by certain medicines. It may also be caused by a salivary gland problem or by always breathing through the mouth instead of the nose.
Some chewable antacids are flavoured or include breath-freshening ingredients to help tackle both symptoms of acid reflux at once.
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