Causes of bad breath. How to get rid of dry mouth and bad odor

The feeling of dry mouth causes discomfort and becomes the main cause of unpleasant odor. However, the dysfunction itself salivary glands may be a sign of various pathologies of the body, the treatment of which requires the intervention of a specialist.

Symptoms of salivary gland dysfunction

In addition to a feeling of dry mouth, the following symptoms may indicate drying out of the mucous membranes:

Often, such phenomena can be caused by increased fluid loss - in this case, the problem can be easily solved by simply replenishing the body’s water balance. But in some cases the appearance on the tongue white plaque in combination with constant feeling dryness is a symptom of the development of a pathology, which in its advanced state will be difficult and expensive to treat.

Main reasons

Dry mouth and unpleasant odor are most often caused by the following reasons:

• Impaired water balance - a person loses too much fluid or does not drink enough.
• Intoxication with alcohol or drugs. Dryness and bitterness in the mouth often accompany withdrawal symptoms or, more simply, a hangover. Similar effects can occur due to the use of a number of weight loss drugs and amphetamine-type drugs.
• Food or chemical poisoning- a type of intoxication of the body. Saliva secretion decreases and dehydration occurs. Drinking may help boiled water or special liquids - you need to drink little and often.
• Breathing disorders during sleep - if a person suffers from sleep apnea or sleeps with open mouth, in the morning he will experience a feeling of dry mucous membranes in oral cavity, and crusts may appear on the lips.

• Unbalanced diet. Too salty, spicy or fatty food causes thirst, since it requires a large volume of saliva to digest it.
• Restructuring of the body associated with age. Symptoms of dry mucous membranes often occur in people over 55 years of age - this is associated with hormonal imbalances and a number of age-related diseases.
• Bad habits, especially smoking. Under the influence of nicotine, the activity of the glands in the oral cavity is disrupted.
• Drug therapy. A number of painkillers, some antidepressants, allergy medications, and antibacterial medications, when taken for a long time, can cause bad taste in the mouth and bitterness in the throat.
• A number of body pathologies. In this situation, other symptoms are usually present in addition to dry mouth. At the same time, the disease can be correctly diagnosed only through testing. biological material(urine, blood) and examinations in medical institution. Therefore, you should not postpone your visit to a specialist.

What to do if you have dry mouth

Dryness and bad smell it is possible to eliminate it from the mouth, for this you can use the following recommendations:

1. Drink boiled or still mineral water- often, in small portions. The method is effective if dryness is caused by an imbalance in water balance due to fluid loss or intoxication.
2. Increase the humidity in the room - you can use special devices.
3. Sugar-free candy or chewing gum can help relieve the bitter taste.
4. Pay attention to oral hygiene - use rinses and toothpaste High Quality. Change regularly toothbrush.
5. Reduce consumption of salty and fatty foods. Eat less fried food.
6. To stimulate saliva production, it is permissible to add a little hot pepper to food;
7. A decoction of mint will help remove the unpleasant odor.
8. If dry mouth occurs as a result of taking medications, you should consult your doctor to adjust the therapeutic course.
9. If there is even the slightest suspicion of the development of any disease, you should immediately consult a doctor for comprehensive survey and diagnostics.

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In the case of chronic gastritis with low acidity, the digestion of protein substances may slow down. recommend taking gastric juice and enzyme preparations help overcome odor. An unpleasant odor from the mouth is also one of the symptoms of a diverticulum - a sac-like protrusion of the wall.

A sour odor may occur due to peptic ulcer stomach or, which is accompanied by increased acidity of the stomach contents. Specific odors should alert you, for example, the smell of ammonia in the case of renal failure, the smell of acetone in a diabetic coma, putrid smell with bronchiectasis (pus begins to accumulate in the formed pockets of the bronchi) or lung abscess. All these odors are a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

But there are situations when the unpleasant one appears for another, more complex reason. For example, as a result of some diseases of the salivary glands, the flow of saliva into the oral cavity stops, or it is too viscous. This can lead to disruption of the self-cleaning processes of the oral cavity, which leads to the appearance of a bad odor.

Bad odor can also occur as a result of mucosal disease. In this case, only a specialist doctor can give specific recommendations. If you believe traditional medicine, if salivation is impaired, you need to eat oatmeal porridge in the morning - it seems to promote better saliva secretion.

In addition, the cause of bad breath is the foods that many are accustomed to consuming. If this is the case, all you have to do is identify these ingredients and eliminate them from your diet.

How to deal with bad breath?

If you are sure that bad breath is not the consequence of any disease, then it is not difficult to get rid of it. Modern science offers many ways to combat bad breath, and here are just a few of them:

- Basil. Back in ancient Rome, Italian cadets picked all the basil in the field before the spring ball. They ate several leaves of the plant so that the girls would not turn their heads away from them while dancing. It was believed that basil eliminates bad breath and gives lightness and freshness to those who consume it.

- Raw apples. Dentists love these fruits. They are sure that apples are peeled tooth enamel, eliminate odors and are a good prevention of dental diseases.

IN ancient Rus' it was believed that the onion or garlic spirit would disappear if eat fragrant vegetables with celery or parsley root. Freshly brewed strong drink also helps eliminate bad breath, including after garlic, onion and wine. And for diseases of the oral mucosa, rinsing with decoctions and infusions has long been used in folk medicine. medicinal herbs. For these purposes, you need to use chamomile, wild strawberry leaves, sage, St. John's wort, calendula leaves and mint. The herb is usually brewed at the rate of 1 tbsp. pour a glass of boiling water, let it brew and squeeze.

Gastrointestinal diseases often accompanied by strong gas formation in –. This increases halitosis. The same herbs help overcome the birth process. Only now they should be taken orally, as carminatives. Dill, parsley, anise, cumin, peppermint, sage and lemon balm are known for this property.

Food products with a known unpleasant odor: garlic, onion, fish.

When chewed, the remains of these products remain in the spaces between the teeth and release their odor for a long time after eating them.

A persistent foul odor after eating garlic, which cannot be overcome even by the most thorough brushing of teeth, occurs as a result of the evaporation of volatile odorous substances, carried by the garlic odor, from the surface of the pulmonary alveoli, to which they enter with current (these substances enter it from the intestines).

Five steps to get rid of bad breath:

1. Determine if there is an unpleasant odor coming from your mouth. The best way It would be frank to ask a loved one or acquaintance about this.

2. Check whether you maintain proper oral hygiene. If not, then do everything to solve this problem - in 30% of cases this will get rid of the unpleasant odor.

3. Visit the dentist - in 60% of cases you can get rid of the unpleasant odor.

4. Visit an ENT doctor and gastroenterologist - in 10% of cases you can get rid of bad breath.

5. Carry out preventive measures to find out the cause of bad breath.

Prevention of bad breath

It should be carried out by all people, because if bad breath is not a problem for you today, this does not mean that you are immune from it. To never encounter such a problem, you should:

Visit the dentist at least 2 times a year;

No smoking;

Maintain oral hygiene and use special means: dental floss, mouth fresheners, tongue brushes and periodic rinses;

Use more apples, as well as vegetables and fruits containing fiber, and less sweets.

Consult a specialist (doctor) before using treatment methods from our site. Possible contraindications due to individual intolerance.

Unpleasant smell from the mouth is actual problem for many modern people. On the one hand, it causes discomfort to others, since communication with a person who smells bad cannot evoke positive emotions. On the other hand, this phenomenon can provoke the development of complexes in the carrier of an unpleasant odor. Some people are ashamed of communicating with family and friends due to the presence of an unpleasant odor. Let's look at how to overcome bad breath, the causes and treatment of this problem.
For effective fight With this phenomenon, it is very important to correctly determine the cause of its development. Foul odors when breathing and talking are characteristic symptom for many diseases. Some of them do not pose a threat to life and appear as a result of a violation metabolic processes or neglectful attitude to oral hygiene. However, in other situations the cause of this phenomenon can be quite dangerous illnesses that require immediate treatment. An example would be the development tumor processes in the throat, one of the main symptoms of which is the appearance of bad breath.
In medicine, the appearance of bad breath is called halitosis. This is not a disease, but a phenomenon that appears due to certain disturbances in the functioning of the body.
Doctors view halitosis primarily as a symptom. Considering the significant discomfort it causes to the patient, many people strive to get rid of the unpleasant odor as quickly as possible. As mentioned earlier, the process of treating this phenomenon depends on the causes of its occurrence.
Very often, popular hygiene products (mouth rinses, special toothpastes or breath freshening inhalers) are not enough to combat an unpleasant odor; in such a situation, it is important to eliminate the cause of the foul odor.

The problem of bad breath was considered by ancient philosophers, who stated that nothing spoils a person more than an “untidy mouth.” Nowadays, in various countries, from 30 to 65% of the population suffers from this disease. It is worth noting that residents of highly developed countries are most susceptible to the development of this phenomenon, whose citizens very often lead unhealthy image life.

Where to look for the causes of halitosis

In most cases, the cause of the development of the disease lies in:

In the first case, the main reason for the appearance bad smell is poor hygiene and development inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. If the cause lies in the respiratory tract, as a rule, the appearance of halitosis is caused by viral, infectious or chronic inflammatory processes.
If the problem lies in gastrointestinal tract, the stench appears due to a wide variety of digestive disorders or organ diseases digestive system. Disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands can greatly affect the composition hormonal substances in organism. An increase in the concentration of certain hormones in saliva can cause bad breath.

How to detect the presence of halitosis yourself

Very often, people do not even realize that their breath is bad. There are also situations when a person is embarrassed by his breath, considering it smelly, for absolutely no reason.
There are several ways to detect halitosis at home. The easiest way is to ask a question to a loved one and ask for a frank answer, but not everyone is able to take such a step, so the following methods are also suitable.

The fact is that a person very often does not smell his own smell, which is felt by others. This is the main reason why many do not even realize there is a problem.
It is best to carry out the test at home at lunchtime or in the evening. It is important that after hygiene procedures at least three hours have passed. Some toothpastes can significantly mask odors for a certain period of time.
Next, we will consider in detail the causes of bad breath and the treatment of this phenomenon.

Main causes of halitosis

In most cases, the causes of bad breath are hidden in the oral cavity. In this case, you may need help professional dentist. Among the main reasons for the development of hilitosis are:

If the causes of the unpleasant odor are not related to the oral cavity, the situation worsens significantly, since this may indicate the presence of serious problems with health. Very often, an unpleasant odor is associated with respiratory diseases. Its appearance may be caused by infectious or viral diseases, but in such a situation, halitosis will disappear after full recovery. Where the situation is more complicated develops in patients with chronic illnesses respiratory tract. Chronical bronchitis, pharyngitis and other common diseases are often the cause of bad breath. If the stench from the oral cavity is associated with similar ailments, it is almost impossible to get rid of it without stopping the chronic inflammatory process. If digestive processes are disrupted, an unpleasant odor can appear both due to the release of gases from the stomach and due to changes in the composition of saliva.

First of all, this problem is observed in patients chronic gastritis, various ailments of the liver and pancreas. In a situation with liver diseases, a person can easily determine the presence of foul odors by the bitterness in the mouth. Halitosis due to hormonal imbalances is characteristic of a wide variety of disorders. Very often, a similar phenomenon is observed in women during menstrual cycle. In such a situation, the composition of saliva changes significantly, which provokes an unpleasant odor.

People at risk include people who have tobacco or alcohol addiction. If moderate consumption alcohol does not cause severe harm; abuse contributes to the development of inflammatory processes in the stomach, liver problems and damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

Tobacco also greatly increases the development of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and respiratory system.
Bad breath in the morning is quite common. In such a situation at night, due to insufficient saliva secretion and the presence of small food particles, the number of harmful microorganisms that produce unpleasant odors greatly increases.
Most people manage to get rid of bad odor after morning hygiene procedures. To completely eliminate the problem, it is enough to

Clean your mouth thoroughly before going to bed and avoid eating food in the evening.

Halitosis in tumor processes

Oncologists regard bad breath as an alarming symptom indicating the development of tumor processes in the respiratory tract or oral cavity. In such a situation, bad breath is a consequence of the inflammatory process, which is provoked by a tumor.
With the development of cancer, a strong discharge of pus is characteristic. If a rotten smell appears, you should go medical examination. However, there is no need to panic. This phenomenon can also be observed during the development of chronic inflammatory processes. You should contact an oncologist if, in addition to bad breath, you also experience other alarming symptoms that are characteristic of cancer.

Bad breath is quite common in children. If at 4 years old a child has bad breath, there may be several reasons. It is quite difficult to teach children to brush their teeth thoroughly, so the reason most often lies in poor oral hygiene.
However, children are also often susceptible to developing various infectious and viral diseases due to insufficiently strengthened immune system. Your baby's bad breath can be caused by colds and viral diseases respiratory tract, as well as jaundice, which young children suffer from quite often.
If the child has no others alarming symptoms Most likely, the problem will be solved after improving the quality of hygienic care.

Who is most susceptible to the disease?

There are several factors that significantly increase your risk of developing bad breath. The likelihood of developing halitosis increases greatly if you have:

• disorders in the endocrine system;
• excess weight;
• problems with salivation;
• increased gas formation during digestion;
• hormonal imbalances;
• immune system disorders;
• disturbances in intestinal function;
• diseases of the stomach, liver and gall bladder;
• inflammatory processes in the oral cavity;
• bad habits (tobacco, alcohol or drug addiction).

As stated earlier, bad breath is often caused by various disorders in the functioning of the body, therefore the presence of a wide variety of factors significantly increases the likelihood of its occurrence. Poor oral hygiene in combination with other less significant factors, significantly aggravate the situation.
In the case of bad habits, a combined blow is applied to many systems of the body. Tobacco smoke significantly irritates the oral mucosa, actively contributing to the appearance of inflammation. It also contributes to the development chronic diseases respiratory system, which entails the appearance of the smell of pus. Alcohol harms the mucous membranes of the mouth, respiratory system and stomach.

Professional diagnostics

If a person notices bad breath, the first thing they should do is consult a dentist. In 80% of cases of bad breath, problems are caused by dental reasons. The dentist will be able to carefully examine the oral cavity and discover the cause of the problem, after which the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

If the appearance of halitosis is not associated with dentistry, the patient will have to visit specialists in a wide variety of fields to identify the cause of the development of the pathology. Specialists such as a gastroenterologist, ENT specialist, and endocrinologist can help.

Treatment of halitosis

The treatment process for halitosis depends on the cause of development. of this disorder. As mentioned above, in most cases this phenomenon is associated with problems of the oral cavity. To get rid of bad odor in such a situation, the help of a dentist and more careful care of the hygienic condition of the mouth will be enough.
The dentist will help remove pathogenic microorganisms in the most inaccessible places, after which the inflammation will subside. If the problem is tooth decay, the dentist will treat the disease. You should also consult a dentist about oral care. This will help prevent the problem from occurring in the future. To improve the condition of the oral cavity, you should:

• Choose a suitable toothbrush. It should not be too hard, since hard brushes irritate the mucous membrane due to excessive mechanical stress. The brush should have the ability to remove dirt from hard-to-reach places. You need to brush your teeth for at least 5 minutes. You also need to pay attention to removing plaque from the tongue.
• Choose the right toothpaste. Some toothpastes have medicinal properties. Their use is recommended in case of inflammation of the gums and problems with the teeth and oral mucosa. However, some types of toothpaste irritate the mucous membranes. IN certain situations an individual reaction of the body to some of its constituent elements is possible. It is important to choose a toothpaste that will have the most beneficial effect on the oral cavity.
• Use dental floss. It will help thoroughly remove plaque and food debris between the teeth. This is one of the main foci for the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
• Use rinsing solutions. The use of a mouth rinse will complement the positive effect of combating pathogenic microflora and help freshen your breath. Many of them contain extracts useful herbs that help relieve inflammation.

You can also use aerosol-based mouth fresheners and chewing gum, but their effect is short-lived and not always very noticeable.


If the cause of halitosis is hidden in another problem, it is important to identify and get rid of it. Many people learn what to do in such a situation from recipes traditional medicine. Indeed, folk remedies can be very effective. Garlic, lemon juice and ginger infusion will help improve oral hygiene. They also have a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. A decoction of milk with sage helps get rid of chronic diseases of the respiratory system. Many plants, vegetables and fruits have antibacterial properties. Medicinal plants can improve the functioning of all body systems, so diversity folk recipes will help you find a way to treat any situation.
Do not forget that the help of a qualified specialist will help not only to choose the most optimal method of treatment, but also to identify a variety of dangerous diseases, in case they are the cause of the unpleasant odor. Treatment prescribed by a doctor can be combined with the use of folk remedies to improve efficiency.
Because the, bad habits significantly contribute to the development of bad breath, without quitting the use of tobacco, alcohol or narcotic drugs it is almost impossible to get rid of the problem. Even if it is temporarily possible to eliminate the cause of the development of halitosis, very soon the problem will return again.
Normalizing your diet helps improve your digestive processes. It is important to eat fresh and cooked vegetables, with the exception of those that increase gas formation. It is very important to reduce your consumption of fried foods and fast food.
Bad breath is a solvable problem. In most cases, the pathologies that cause this disease do not cause severe damage to the health of the body and do not pose a threat to the patient’s life. However, this phenomenon should not be ignored, because if it is caused by certain disturbances in the functioning of the body, then complications may develop.