Why Dry Mouth Equals Not So Good Breath
Why Dry Mouth Equals Not So Good Breath
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, may seem simple to remedy. That statement would be true if there were only one cause of bad breath (halitosis), but there are many contributing factors to the foul odor that often resides in our mouths.
The most obvious reason would be that you are not properly caring for your teeth and gums. Do not forget about our tongue, which is where the sneaky little bacteria like to hide all the way on the back of the tongue where there is little to no oxygen. Other reasons for bad breath (halitosis), is the side effect of not properly brushing, flossing, and rinsing that leads to gum disease (periodontitis.) All of these factors will compound the already foul smell you are experiencing. If that were not enough, there could also be possible systemic complications that add to the malodor problem.
Now, just when you thought you were done, think about yet another contributor to the bad breath (halitosis). That is dry mouth (xerostomia). Dry mouth can occur for a variety of reasons. This can include everything from public speaking, stress, medications, alcohol, and sleeping. Yes, sleeping. Most people have risen in the morning to the dreaded morning breath. You feel thirsty and may rush to the bathroom to brush and gargle to send those bacteria packing.
So what exactly is it that makes dry mouth so distressing on your breath? To understand this, you need to take a look at how bad breath (halitosis) begins. First, bacteria found in the average mouth accumulate mostly on the person’s tongue towards the back. The anaerobic bacteria feed upon food debris and then produce Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC). Volatile Sulfur Compounds have the smell of hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. The importance of a moist mouth is because our saliva has natural antibiotic elements that reduce the number of bacteria. When your mouth dry out, saliva production diminishes and bad breath (halitosis) increases.
If you find yourself dehydrated, your body will try to conserve moisture by reducing your salivary flow, thus minimizing saliva's cleansing and diluting effects on the bacteria and bacterial waste products that are the cause of bad breath. A way to stimulate your mouth's flow of saliva is to chew on something. Why is chewing important? Chewing is important to dental health because it exercises the salivary glands. If you stop or slow down the use of them, then they will not work properly. This means they will not produce saliva. So chew gums, breath mints, and lozenges to continue stimulating salivary flow.
Some signs and symptoms to help you determine if you have dry mouth:
Burning sensation of the tongue
Difficulty eating, especially dry foods
Difficulty with speech
Often thirsty
Difficulty wearing dentures
Dry, cracked lips, and at the corners of the mouth
Impaired taste
What can you do to assure that you remain hydrated and have breath that is as sweet smelling as you want?
Daily brushing is an absolute
Schedule regular dental cleanings
Use of a tongue cleaner to scrape that white stuff off of the back of your tongue
Chew gum to stimulate saliva production
Drink the recommended eight fluid ounces of water daily
Hydrogen Peroxide is a great rinse because it releases oxygen and the bacteria in the mouth thrive in an environment without oxygen
Limit our intake of coffee and alcohol which cause dehydration
Trick your mind to produce saliva – sour things stimulate saliva production. If you do not have a lemon handy, simply think about it and watch the increase in your saliva production
Remember that a dry mouth is not something to be taken lightly. When you are experiencing dry mouth, heavy plaque and food may accumulate. Obviously, an increase in plaque and debris can lead to tooth decay and gum disease (periodontitis). Saliva also helps remove food, debris, and plaque from the tooth surfaces, which helps protect against oral diseases and cavities. It also cleanses the tooth surfaces and neutralizes acids. As you can see dry mouth can have serious consequences.