Dry Mouth and Bad Breath

Is there a link between a dry mouth and bad breath? A number of problems are associated with a decrease of saliva in the mouth and halitosis is one of them. Others include tooth decay, mouth sores, and infections. An obvious reason is that saliva keeps the mouth tissues moist—drying causes them to break down and be more susceptible to injury and infection. However, saliva also contains a variety of substances that protect against infection and support a balance of normal healthy bacteria in the oral cavity.

A lack of saliva and bad breath go together because, in most cases, it’s an abnormal overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth that leads to bad breath. These are anaerobic bacteria, strains that are normally present in low numbers but which multiply in certain circumstances—when something upsets the normal balance and gives them an opportunity. Anaerobes produce sulfur compounds as they grow and multiply—the compounds that smell bad on your breath. When you have dry mouth and bad breath, the two are probably connected. The anaerobes are taking advantage of an unhealthy situation in your mouth.

A number of things can lead to dry mouth and bad breath. Among the common causes are mouth breathing (usually due to sinus congestion), alcohol, smoking, and dehydration. Less commonly, certain diseases result in a reduction of saliva and bad breath as a consequence. Finally, a number of drugs, as well as chemotherapy and radiation for cancer are known causes. Some of these will clear up on their own in time. For others, some kind of treatment may be necessary.

To deal with a simple case of dry mouth and bad breath, try to avoid breathing through the mouth, drink lots of fluids, avoid alcohol and tobacco, and choose moist foods. Practice careful oral hygiene with particular attention to your teeth: remember that reduced saliva and bad breath can be accompanied by dental problems. Certain over the counter medications and oral health products can also help with dry mouth problems. Some of them are aimed at decreasing the number of anaerobes living in the mouth, either by killing them off or physically removing them—an approach for dealing specifically with the bad breath issue.

For more complicated cases of dry mouth and bad breath, those where other health problems are involved, it’s best to consult your doctor and discuss your options: some prescription medications and other medical treatments are available to alleviate the symptoms and the discomfort.