Dry Mouth Bad Breath

Has anyone ever told you that you have bad breath? 

It’s a terrible feeling….isn’t it?

Here is a tip that will definitely help your problem.

A Dry Mouth and the role it plays in Bad Breath.

You might have brushed your teeth only an hour ago but your mouth feels and tastes like it’s made of sandpaper. This could mean you have less saliva than the normal person. Less saliva leads to a dry mouth, which in turn causes bad breath.

Saliva plays a big role in helping your mouth perform different tasks.

Saliva not only stabilizes the pH levels in your mouth, it also provides adequate levels of oxygen to help the tissues in your mouth stay healthy and fresh and enzymes which help you digest your food.

When you have less saliva it is known as Xerostomia - less saliva also means less oxygen, which provides the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria.

Bacteria will then create sulphur gases which give you the bad taste in your mouth along with bad breath.

Your tongue plays the biggest role in the bad breath factor of your mouth. The shape of your tongue can determine how “on the nose” your breath really is.

If your tongue is rough then you are more likely to have bad breath. Therefore the texture of your tongue could be adding to your bad breath.

Bad breath is often found when a person has a hairy tongue. This really isn't hair, it is longer than average papillae. Bacteria can get trapped in these long papillae and produce foul smelling sulphurs.

When brushing your teeth, brushing or scraping your tongue can also help. If you brush too hard you may develop what is known as "Burning Tongue Syndrome" so be a little careful and don’t go at it too hard.

This occurs when you have developed sensitivity to certain conditions. If your tongue is sensitive then brushing and scraping hard is not recommended. Also you'll need to stay well away from mouthwash and oral rinses that are alcohol based.

You can now see that dry mouth and bad breath go together. If you are bothered by Xerostomia then here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Always keep a water bottle close by and keep your mouth hydrated
• Have a pack of sugarless gum on hand for when your mouth is feeling dry
• Always brush and floss your teeth (especially after eating), and don't forget your tongue.

Bad Breath Problems may be an unpleasant part of your life now, but by following these simple tips above you can be rid of your bad breath problems forever.