Halitosis, or bad breath, is most often caused by a certain type of bacteria that produces volatile sulfur compounds. These bacteria can live on the tonsils, adenoids, teeth, gums, and tongue. For people with good oral hygiene, bad breath is most often the result of bacteria growth on the back of the tongue and/or adenoids. Less frequently, halitosis could be caused by sinus infection, reflux, bronchitis, cancer, kidney failure, metabolic issues, and pneumonia.
There are several things you can try at home before making an appointment to see a doctor about halitosis:
- Floss and brush your teeth daily
- Brush your tongue, especially the back of the tongue, with a tongue brush or scraper
- Gargle twice a day, especially before bed
- Flush the nose with saline twice per day
- Eat yogurt that contains streptococcus thermophilus and lactobacillus bulgaricus
- Drink plenty of water
Look for a mouth rinse that does not contain alcohol, but does contain zinc chloride, chlorine dioxide, cetylpyridinium chloride, and chlorhexidine.
Look for these bad breath-fighting ingredients in your next toothpaste: bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, triclosan, tin fluoride, and sodium fluoride.
If your halitosis doesn’t improve, consider making an appointment with Orlando ENT. A doctor can take a closer look at your adenoids , sinuses, and tonsils to see if they’re the root of the problem. He or she will also investigate whether its another, more serious condition that’s causing the bad breath.
