The Bad Breath Blog

The winter season brings with it many things: time with family, the spirit of giving, cold weather and dry mouth. Yes it’s true. The cold and sometimes dry weather can cause dry mouth (if you don’t have it already). Here are some articles that discuss bad breath and even offer some explanations and solutions.

Let’s back up a little and talk about dry mouth in general. Most people experience bad breath or morning breath from sleeping. This is because many tend to sleep with their mouths open or even snore, making your mouth dry while you sleep. But for others, dry mouth syndrome can be blamed for chronic halitosis and also dry eyes.

This can be due to Sjogren’s syndrome which is an autoimmune disease. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that people that have Sjogren’s have dryness is both their eyes and mouth because their immune systems attack their salivary glands and can also lead to hindered tear production and even arthritis. While you might not know anyone with this syndrome, it really is more common than people think.

Earlier this year famous tennis player Venus Williams publicly announced that she has Sjogren’s. She has dry mouth syndrome and it took doctors years before her halitosis, dry mouth and dry eyes were diagnosed. Williams is one of 4 million Americans who have this disease. Interestingly, the NIH stated that nine out of ten people with halitosis due to dry mouth syndrome are women. To treat this condition, lip balm and artificial saliva can be helpful and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is good advice regardless of who you are. Sucking on lozenges or any type of hard candy can be helpful in keeping one’s mouth moist throughout the day – just be sure to stay away from candy that has sugar as it can cause more problems such as tooth decay while trying to help with oral dryness. Gargling with an alcohol-free mouthwash can also be helpful, even to those that only experience morning breath.

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Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a problem that is more common in adults than children.  According to the American Dental Association, it can frequently be a symptom of a health condition or a side effect of a medication (i.e. decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics, and pain relievers). 

Sometimes dry mouth causes the following: a sore throat, burning sensation, hoarse voice, difficulty with speaking and/or swallowing, and nasal dryness.  Consequently, if chronic dry mouth is not remedied, it can lead to tooth decay and damage! This is because saliva is needed to prevent a dry oral cavity, neutralize acids and dispose of food/tartar build-up.  Plaque can create acids that cause damage to the teeth.   Furthermore, a dry mouth is usually accompanied by bad breath. 

If a person’s mouth is excessively dry, it can negatively affect the oral tissues, sometimes causing inflammation and a higher risk of getting an infection.  If you suspect you have chronic dry mouth, consult your dentist for a checkup and look for treatments. 

Source: MSN