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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.
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During a physical examination, a healthcare professional may use a tongue depressor and a light to examine the back of the throat for the presence of tonsil stones. They may also gently palpate the neck to check for swollen lymph nodes.
Certain foods and drinks can also contribute to bad breath. Foods like garlic and onions contain volatile compounds that are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs, where they are exhaled. Similarly, drinks like coffee and alcohol can leave a lingering odor in the mouth.
Small tonsil stones may not cause any symptoms that you’d notice. Even when they’re large, some tonsil stones are found only after X-rays or CT scans. Symptoms include:
Other medical conditions that can cause bad breath include gastrointestinal issues like acid reflux or liver disease. These conditions can cause stomach acids or toxins to be released into the mouth, resulting in an unpleasant odor.
The smell of tonsil stones can be quite unpleasant and can lead to bad breath. The odor is caused by the buildup of bacteria, food particles, and other debris that gets trapped in the tonsil crevices. The bacteria break down the particles, releasing a foul smell.
Saliva helps displace bacteria in the mouth that causes bad odors. When you have dry mouth, odor-causing bacteria is not washed away by saliva, resulting in bad breath. This is why most people have "morning breath;" your saliva production decreases when you are sleeping causing dry mouth and bad breath.
Although (as you probably know) there’s no cure for the common cold, there are ways to help yourself feel better when you have one. Taking a decongestant can help your nasal passages drain and drinking plenty of water and other fluids can help to flush out excess mucous.
Antibiotics may be prescribed in cases where tonsil stones are accompanied by an infection. Antibiotics can help kill the bacteria causing the infection and reduce inflammation in the tonsils.
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Breath tests can help determine the presence and severity of halitosis. These tests measure the levels of volatile sulfur compounds in the breath, which can indicate the presence of tonsil stones or other causes of bad breath.
Tooth decay, also known as cavities, can also cause bad breath. When bacteria in the mouth break down sugars and carbohydrates from food, they produce acids that can erode tooth enamel and lead to cavities. These cavities can harbor bacteria and food particles, resulting in bad breath.
Besides stomach ulcers, even gastroesophageal reflux disease can result in foul odor. In this medical condition, the acid from the stomach travels back into the mouth resulting in a burning sensation in the chest as well as throat. The acid also damages the teeth and triggers the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Doctors conduct tests and prescribe medicines after confirming reflux disease symptoms.
Tonsil stones form when this debris hardens, or calcifies. This tends to happen most often in people who have long-term inflammation in their tonsils or repeated cases of tonsillitis.
You get tonsil stones when deposits of bacteria sit inside your tonsils for a long time. It turns into this crystalized white or yellow rock. There is a chance you have actually accidentally bitten one. Have you ever had something randomly appear in your mouth? You think it is leftover food so you chew on it. Then you are met with this absolutely horrendous taste in your mouth. Nine times out of ten that was a tonsil stone. I don’t recommend this but if you cut one open and smell. You will see why it causes such horrible breath.
Whether you have a tonsil stone, have already removed it, or just want to avoid them, adding a drop of these essential oils to your toothbrush when you brush your teeth can help fight the anaerobic bacteria that give tonsil stones their foul smell.