Breath odor
Alternate Names : Bad breath, Halitosis
Home Care & Treatment
Use proper dental hygiene (especially flossing), and remember that mouthwashes are not effective in treating the underlying problem. Fresh parsley or a strong mint are often effective ways to fight temporary bad breath. Avoid smoking. Otherwise, follow prescribed therapy to treat the underlying cause.
Call your Health Care Provider if
- Breath odor persists and there is not an obvious cause (such as smoking or eating odor-causing foods).
- You have breath odor and signs of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, or face pain with discharge from the nose
What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. You may be asked the following medical history questions: - Is there a specific odor?
- Is there a fishy smell?
- Does the breath smell like ammonia or urine?
- Does the breath smell like fruit or is there a sweet-chemical smell?
- Does the breath smell like feces?
- Does the breath smell like alcohol?
- Have you recently eaten a spicy meal, garlic, cabbage, or other "odorous" food?
- Do you take vitamin supplements?
- Do you smoke?
- Does good oral hygiene improve the odor?
- What home care measures have you tried? How effective are they?
- Is there a recent sore throat, sinus infection, tooth abscess, or other illness?
- What other symptoms do you have?
The physical examination will include a thorough examination of the mouth and the nose. A throat culture may be taken if you have a sore throat or mouth sores. In rare cases, diagnostic tests that may be performed include: Antibiotics may be prescribed for some conditions. For an object in the nose, the doctor will use an instrument to remove it.
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