Certain Medications Cause Halitosis . Does Yours?

Side affects: dry mouth (AKA halitosis)

Does you medication list halitosis (dry mouth) as a side affect. Countless over-the-counter medicines and prescriptions medications claim dry mouth as a possible side affect. Dry mouth is a leading cause of chronic bad breath (halitosis), which means your medications could cause halitosis. And you wouldn’t even know it, unless someone brought it to your attention, since most people cannot smell their own breath.

Any medication or treatment that causes dry mouth or reduces salivation, allergy medications, antidepressants, blood pressure, and sinus medications all have the potential to cause halitosis.

Chronic bad breath (halitosis) is caused by a number of other factors which may have never affected you before, but add another factor such as certain medications and you’re soon victim of halitosis.

The other factors that contribute to chronic bad breath, aside from dry mouth, include improper oral hygiene, absence of flossing, your body’s tendency to overproduce bacteria, a high fat or high protein diet, cavities, consuming too much alcohol or coffee, and overusing breath mints or mouthwashes. Do you do any of the above? (Be honest, we won’t tell.) If you do, and you now take a medication that can lead to halitosis, it is time to get serious and look for remedies to combat chronic bad breath. According to the Massachusetts Dental Association, a mind blowing $10 billion dollars is spent each year to get rid of bad breath, most of it on items that only work temporarily like alcohol-based mouth wash and breath mints. Here are a few home remedies to help off-set halitosis that may be caused by medications.

If your medication gives you a dry mouth, drink plenty of water. If you drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and you still have a dry feeling, or chronic bad breath then add lemon or lime to your water. Also try gargling with water mixed with either one drop of Myrrh essential oil, or grapefruit seed extract. This will help eliminate any bacteria that are growing in your mouth and cause halitosis. Use this instead of mouth wash, since the alcohol in store bought washes will further dry out your mouth making chronic bad breath worse.

If you are taking medication for allergies, a cold or sinus problems, boil a pot of water on the stove and add vinegar. Turn off the heat and inhale the steam which will clear up you nasal passages, while the vinegar kills any bacteria that can lead to halitosis.

Eat a balanced diet. Consuming too much fat, protein or dairy can result in excess mucus and bacteria leading to halitosis. Stay away from dairy and breads a few hours before your bedtime as these create mucus that will form when you sleep creating a haven for halitosis.

Finally, if taking medications, keep a food diary listing what you ate each day and the state of your halitosis, if any. Also note if you had excess mucus or a dry mouth. In doing this you can keep track of how certain food affect you---and your breath.

Whozylee Aris has created a website on the topic of bad breath. Find the real causes and cures for bad breath by visiting http://www.bad-breath-resource.com. View this article online at http://www.bad-breath-resource.com/article-11-halitosis-and-medication.html