Publications
Partners
A few of the common signs of bad breath are:
- A white coating on the surface of the tongue
- A sour, bitter or metallic taste related to higher acid levels in the mouth
- Dryness in the mouth, extreme "morning breath", or evidence of thicker saliva
- High levels of postnasal drip or mucus in the throat
- An increase in bad breath after eating certain foods, using mouthwashes or hormonal therapies, or during the menstrual cycle.
Tiny round white globules known as tonsilloliths are also related to halitosis and sour taste. They are created by sulphur gases produced by bacteria located in the throat area.
The sulphur gas mixes with the mucous and thick saliva in the back of your throat and, after a period of time, condenses into these concentrated, odorous globs.
When to see your dentist
When you are showing signs and symptoms of halitosis or when told so by a friend, make an appointment to see a dentist to help you with the problem.
Read more:
Revised and reviewed by Professor Bill Evans, BDS Dip Orth(Witwatersrand). Orthodontist: South African Dental Association and Senior Specialist, Department of Orthodontics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. February 2015.
Previously reviewed by Dr Jeff Michelson, South African Dental Association
