05/09/2020
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/05/health/mask-coronavirus-bad-breath-10-causes-remedies/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2SV0pef6TLwjjbIHyaPiPTBMcf1tSEC6SBhMhsi_hAlWKW3IjYZuwsNP8
Nice little article on what you can do about that bad breath you may notice now that we're ALL masking up. Don't feel like reading entire article? Here's the gist ...
1. First and foremost, schedule regular cleaning appointments at your dentist! We're able to get the stuff that you won't be able to reach even with diligent flossing and brushing.
2. Diet: sweets will harbor bacteria and cause cavities in addition to not so sweet breath, garlic and coffee lovers (guilty!) not surprising fact that these both linger long after you want it to, low carb dieters drink a lot of water to flush the ketones away.
3. Sleep apnea: if you'r snoring your'e inevitably mouth breathing, and if you're doing this all night long, it'll cause xerostomia aka dry mouth. Without adequate saliva, you may get a sore throat, altered taste, and yes you guessed it, bad breath. While we're on this topic, try to clear your nose before bedtime and keep nasal airway patent during sleep (e.g. nose cones, nasal strips). Your dentist may be able to make you an oral appliance to treat your sleep apnea. Visit Sleep Apnea and Snoring Treatment Center to learn more.
4. Medications: major side effect of many medications are dry mouth. Keep taking your medications of course, but try to increase your water intake to counter the side effects.
5. To***co, smoking or chewing: With Covid-19 being a respiratory illness, now may be the best time to think about quitting, please reach out for resources on how to quit.
6. Alcohol: contains sugar! and bacteria in our mouths love sugar, so chase down with water water water.
7. Underlying medical conditions: GERD (can smell of stomach acids), diabetes (again a fruity smell indicative of ketosis, ), kidney or liver disease (fishy or urine-like).
