Quarantine may be boring, but it’s a great time to brush up on your dental hygiene and learn more about your dental habits. One inescapable factor of life is bad breath happens to everyone. In fact, over 80 million people suffer from chronic halitosis or bad breath. It’s a common oral health concern that’s usually caused by a poor diet or poor dental habits. Have you realized that even in quarantine or isolation, you’re still struggling with bad breath?

The cause might not be what you expect! We all know that not brushing and flossing your teeth, eating a garlic-loaded dish, and smoking tobacco products can result in bad breath, but here are some of the more surprising causes of halitosis.

• Medication: Believe it or not, your medication may be the cause of your bad breath. Certain medications, especially prescription medications, come with side effects of increased dry mouth. When your saliva decreases, bacteria increases and the result is bad odor and bad breath.
• Medical Conditions: Even health conditions like diabetes or sinus infections can cause some serious bad breath. Diabetes can result in bad breath from high glucose levels, and sinus infections cause post-nasal drip which can cause halitosis as well. It’s important to be aware of your medical condition and health issues because they can affect other factors of your life. After all, a toothache is never just a toothache.
• Cancer: While it is common for people with a history of smoking to develop cancer, it is not just tobacco-related cancer that causes bad breath. Any cancers that are in your nasal passages or upper throat can result in halitosis. However, the odor may be more apparent from your nose rather than your mouth.
• Tonsil Stones: Tonsil stones are calcified lumps on your tonsils. There is no known cause of tonsil stones, and people can usually extract them at home, but one of their unfortunate side effects is bad breath.
• Digestive Issues: Bowel obstructions, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and intestinal issues can all result in bad breath as well. Whether it’s due to stomach acid entering the esophagus or a build-up of food, these health concerns can result in serious halitosis and bad breath.

Whether you’re a coffee-drinker, a garlic-lover, or just have the occasional case of halitosis, here are some easy ways to focus on your oral health and combat bad breath. One of the best ways to get rid of bad breath is to scrape your tongue. In addition to brushing your teeth, you should always make sure to brush your tongue. The surface of your tongue is a breeding ground for smelly bacteria that easily result in halitosis. Another way to maintain your oral health and keep your breath smelling fresh is to floss regularly. It’s not enough to just brush your teeth. Food particles can get stuck in the crevices between your teeth and bacteria, and a bad odor can arise.

Remember these tips and don’t forget that bad breath is a common but treatable issue. We may be in quarantine but it doesn’t hurt to keep things clean and fresh, including your breath, even with social distancing in place.