Is Bad Breath Linked To Dry Mouth

Guest Post By John Thompson

A lot of health problems can affect our throughout oral health. Some oral problems are associated to other oral health problems that occur over a period of time. For example, it is not uncommon for bad breath to be caused by a dry mouth. Ironically enough, one of the symptoms of a dry mouth is bad breath. A dry mouth is to reduce the production of saliva in mouth. The cause of dry mouth can be caused by several factors, including:

- Side effects of certain diseases - Side effect of certain medications - Side effects of particular medical treatments - Dehydration - Nerve damage - Damaged salivary glands - Hormonal changes - Lifestyle

Bad breath is often caused by poor oral hygiene, the food we eat, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and underlying medical problems. Bad breath is also caused by a decreased flow of saliva in the mouth. Such cut in the production of saliva, dry mouth. Saliva is an important substance to have in the mouth.

Saliva plays an important role when it comes to digesting the food that we eat. Saliva also helps to clean and rinse the mouth out of odor causing particles and bacteria that are within the mouth. Saliva also neutralizes the acids that are within the mouth and washes away the dead cells away that accumulate on the tongue, cheeks, and gums. If the saliva does not do this job, and the cells break down and bad breath would be inevitable.

Bacteria and infections prefer to grow in warm, dark, and somewhat moist places; therefore, inside the mouth of a person suffering from a dry mouth would be the perfect place. Even though one may suffer from a dry mouth, there is always some moisture present. This develops the right environment to aid the growth of the bacteria between the teeth, around the gums, and tongue. If the bacteria initially develop, the odor causing bacteria is erupts as bad breath.