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Bad breath

Home Care

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:

• Blood tests to screen for diabetes or kidney failure
• Endoscopy (EGD)
• X-ray of the abdomen
• X-ray of the chest

Antibiotics may be prescribed for some conditions. For an object in the nose, the doctor will use an instrument to remove it.

Reviewer Info: Michael Kapner, D.D.S., General and Cosmetic Dentistry, New Rochelle, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, M.D., MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., 04/24/2008