No one wants to be known as the person with stinky breath. Along with the usual culprits like garlic and smoking, there are some chronic conditions that cause bad breath, scientifically known as halitosis. Following are some conditions that cause bad breath, when and if you should see a doctor about your breath, and some ways to counteract those things that cause bad breath.
Dental hygiene – Are you a habitual brusher and flosser? Keeping up with these and your regularly scheduled dental cleaning visits can help prevent bad breath.
Chronic dry mouth – When you don’t produce enough saliva, this can lead to the condition of chronic dry mouth. While we tend to think of saliva as gross, it actually helps keep your mouth clean, thereby reducing the funk that causes bad breath. Smoking and some medications can cause dry mouth. Drink plenty of water and if that’s not enough, ask your pharmacist for some over the counter options. Your health care provider or dentist can recommend a medication to help increase saliva production.
Gum disease – When too much plaque accumulates on your teeth it turns into tartar. That tartar causes little pockets to form between your teeth and gums and when food and bacteria collect in those pockets, the stink is released. Your dentist can tell you if you have gum disease and can help get rid of the tartar that’s causing it. Sometimes a deep clean, or descaling is all you need to get rid of the problem.
Sinus problems – If you have chronic sinus issues, they could be causing bad breath. Tonsilliths or tonsil stones can form in the throat and cause a terrible odor. Over the counter antihistamines and decongestants work to clear up most sinus problems but if you have chronic, recurring issues or infections, it’s time to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about options.
GERD – Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is a fairly common cause of halitosis. Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend a medication that can help treat GERD and hopefully eliminate the associated halitosis. Working on healing your gut microbiome can also help reduce GERD and its related symptoms.
Diseases – Kidney or liver failure can cause the breath to smell fishy. Out of control diabetes can cause it to smell fruity. If you think you may have one of these conditions, talk to your health care provider immediately.
Here are a few things you can do to counteract run-of-the-mill halitosis:
Brush and floss every day.
Clean any dentures, mouthguards or retainers every day.
Use a tongue scraper.
Visit your dentist every six months.
Your health care provider or dentist can usually diagnose whether your bad breath is normal or something to be worried about so make sure to set up an appointment if you’re bothered by chronic halitosis.
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We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.