Are You Allergic? You May Also Have Bad Breath

It is well known that allergies and bad breath are related and one can often be caused by the other. So just what is the relationship between allergies and bad breath and what can be done about it?

One of the main causes of bad breath is a dry mouth. Dry mouth can allow bacteria to build up on the tongue and the more bacteria build up the stronger the bad breath.These anaerobic bacteria feed on leftover food and as they do they emit a bad smelling gas which is what causes your smelly breath.

A common factor in the cause of dry mouth is allergies. To make matters worse many of the medications given to treat allergies also cause dry mouth and therefore exacerbate the problem. These medications often have an impact on the production of saliva and in fact cause less saliva to be produced. This leads to dry mouth and as a results in ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive.

Many allergies will produce some cold-like symptoms such as runny nose or post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip is a very common cause of bad breath and is caused when excessive mucus is produced by the sinuses. Allergens that cause post-nasal drip are often seasonal, inhalant allergens and mainly occur during spring and early summer, however post-nasal drip can also be caused by year round allergies such as dust mites or food allergies.

Often people who suffer from allergies with have an opened soft palate which is the ideal ground for bacteria to live and multiply. Bacteria can be found in mucus and post nasal drip is the perfect breeding ground for them. Bacteria will feed off this condition and this will all contribute to bad breath. Those people who suffer from post nasal drip will often have not only bad breath but also a bad taste in their mouth.

A third way that allergies can cause bad breath is by food intolerance to foods such as dairy, wheat, eggs, and other foods. Food allergy does not always present with immediate and drastic symptoms but can often cause some more subtle symptoms that the sufferer often does not know that a food intolerance is causing them.One of the common symptoms of food intolerance is gas and bloating. If you experience frequent build up of gases in your stomachs you are likely to experience bad breath more often as the gas can reflux up and settle in the mouth.

There are many food allergens that can cause this symptom and a number of allergens that can cause dry mouth and post nasal drip. If you suffer from any of these symptoms there is a good chance that you have an allergen that you may be unaware of.

The first step to treating bad breath is to discover what it is that you are allergic to and take the necessary steps to avoid that allergen and therefore avoid triggering the allergic reaction that may lead to bad breath. Once you have your allergies under control your breath should improve and your friends and colleagues will no doubt be happier standing close to you.

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry

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