If you have bad breath – that is, if your breath smells persistently – there is generally nothing to worry about. Better oral hygiene is often the solution to the problem. Sometimes, however, bad breath is a wake-up call. If you always have bad breath, you may be suffering from this disease.
Bad breath is a wake-up call
Bad breath is usually caused by inadequate oral hygiene. In fact, when you don’t brush your teeth perfectly, food particles ferment in your mouth, causing bad odors. In this case, it is useful not only to brush your teeth, but also to floss, drink more water and clean your tongue.
If you take good care of your oral hygiene, but still suffer from bad breath, you should see your doctor. In fact, bad breath can be a sign of many diseases. Caries, colitis, cystic fibrosis, gastritis, pneumonia and tonsillitis, just to name a few. Also, if you always have bad breath, you may be suffering from this disease: tonsil stones. Care should be taken especially if you also feel a strange discomfort in the throat. Just as if a bite is stuck in it that you just can’t swallow.
Tonsil stones: what they are and how to get rid of them
The tonsil stones, responsible for bad breath, are whitish formations, similar to pebbles. They are created on the surface of the throat and tonsils. They consist of bacteria, food remnants and calcified mucus residues. They are caused by an alteration of the pH or the normal bacterial flora found in the mouth and throat. In turn, these changes may be due to gastroesophageal reflux, tonsillitis, inadequate oral hygiene or the use of certain medications. Furthermore, some tonsils are simply more predisposed to accommodate these unwelcome guests.
If you’ve found out you have tonsil stones, what can you do? In most cases, no therapy is needed: the white pebbles disappear spontaneously. However, if they cause you pain, it may be necessary to remove them surgically with a small incision.
Deepening:
It is not just the smell of the breath that is a useful indicator of potential disease. Sensing a strange taste in the mouth is also a wake-up call. Click here if you often feel an unpleasant metallic taste.
