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Anyone who has ever had a tonsil stone can attest to the fact that they are not pleasant. It’s hard to breathe, it feels like there is something stuck in your throat, and they smell really, really bad.
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It's wise to brush those gnashers regularly to avoid whiffy breath, even if you're a hippo at London Zoo (Credit: Getty Images)
Avoiding tobacco and alcohol can also help prevent tonsil stones and bad breath. Both tobacco and alcohol can dry out the mouth, creating an environment that is conducive to bacterial growth.
Even if food isn’t naturally smelly, it can become smelly if it’s left in your mouth too long. If you’re not cleaning your mouth well enough, food residue can rot in your mouth, causing very bad breath. This is particularly common for people who don’t floss and have residue stuck between their teeth.
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Dentures that are not cleaned correctly may be collecting bacteria, fungi, and remaining food particles. All of these cause bad breath.
Large tonsil stones can cause swollen tonsils and give you trouble swallowing. Tonsil stones can also sometimes trigger infections.
Using a mouthwash can be an effective way to freshen your breath and kill bacteria in your mouth. There are many mouthwashes available on the market, but not all are created equal. Here are five top-rated mouthwashes for fresh breath:
- Garlic and onions: These foods contain sulfur compounds that can be released in the mouth and contribute to bad breath.
If a medicine you’re taking is contributing to bad breath, it’s a good idea to talk to the medical provider who prescribed it. It could be that there is another medicine available that will help you out, without causing bad breath. Your medical provider can also recommend ways, like over the counter mouth rinses, to cope with the breath problem if you can’t change medications.
Certain prescription medications can also cause dry mouth, so if you believe this may be a possibility, check with the prescribing physician.
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Including probiotic-rich foods in your diet, such as yogurt and fermented vegetables, can also help promote a healthy balance of bacteria in your mouth. However, it's important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the role of probiotics in preventing bad breath.
It is not a dangerous condition, and one can get rid of it by using some home remedies. However, it may require antibiotics and surgery in some cases.
If the dentist determines that the cause of bad breath is not related to oral health, they may refer you to a doctor for further evaluation. The doctor can assess your overall health and determine if there are any underlying medical conditions that need to be addressed.