Bad smell from the throat and oral cavity very often worries patients, but not everyone attaches great importance to this deviation. Specialists call this phenomenon halitosis. Bad breath can occur not only due to problems with the oral cavity. Many diseases and pathologies are accompanied by this symptom, so it is recommended to undergo a thorough examination to prescribe effective therapy. Treatment is prescribed based on the results.
What diseases can trigger an unpleasant odor?
The cause of an unpleasant smell in the throat can be associated with both normal physiological phenomena occurring in the body and pathological abnormalities. Among the presented diseases there are serious and minor deviations, but in any case they require timely diagnosis and high-quality treatment. The most common provoking factors include the following diseases:
- Pathologies of the lungs, including some forms of pneumonia.
- Liver disease.
- Pathology of the nasopharynx and throat.
- Diabetes.
- Oncology of the oral cavity, malignant tumors.
- Gum tissue disease.
- Carious formations.
- Diseases of the pharynx of a bacterial nature.
- HIV
- Stomach ulcer.
If the patient has revealed one of the listed diseases, then after its cure the bad smell from the throat will also disappear.
Other reasons
Other causes that are not associated with diseases of internal organs and systems can also provoke halitosis. These factors include:
- Bad breath in the morning. Saliva practically does not stand out at night, therefore, a favorable environment is created for the development and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria, which provoke unpleasant breathing.
- Starvation. The smell will disappear after eating, as saliva begins to be released intensively.
- Lack of fluid in the body. Provokes a slight secretion of saliva.
- Taking certain medications.
- After drinking alcohol.
- Eating fragrant foods.
- Smoking.
- Failure to comply with the rules of oral hygiene.
But it is worthwhile to understand that the listed reasons for the unpleasant odor from the oral cavity in most cases are caused by diseases, so you should consult a doctor to identify the pathology.
ENT diseases
Various infectious diseases of ENT organs can provoke an unpleasant odor from the throat. In this case, it must be borne in mind that halitosis will be temporary and will disappear after treatment. If the patient is constantly disturbed by this violation, then it is recommended to check for chronic infections of the nasal cavity, pharynx or tonsils.
An ENT specialist in this situation pays special attention to tonsils, since they have a special structure - cavities and gaps where food debris can accumulate. Therefore, a bad smell from the throat is considered the leading symptom in chronic tonsillitis.
There are cases when even on healthy tonsils you can observe the formation of plugs, which consist of the remains of food, dead epithelium, bacteria and calcium salts. They are not considered dangerous, but they cause some discomfort to the patient and are accompanied by the same breathing from the oral cavity.
White lumps from the throat with an unpleasant odor occur for unknown reasons, but therapy is mandatory. The patient is prescribed mechanical removal of formations and preventive measures. In this case, blood and urine tests must be taken to exclude other diseases of the internal organs and systems.
Symptomatology
A bad smell from the throat can also be accompanied by additional symptoms, which helps with the diagnosis. When examining these signs, the specialist pays special attention.
Symptoms of halitosis:
- Pain in the area of damaged and frayed teeth.
- Unpleasant sensations in the throat: sore, pain.
- Runoff of mucus on the back of the throat.
- Trouble breathing.
- Heartburn, belching, nausea, and vomiting.
- Thirst and dryness in the oral cavity.
- Bad taste in the oral cavity.
- Blood spitting.
If the patient has the above symptoms along with a bad smell, you should immediately contact a specialist and pass all the tests, undergo a full examination of the body to establish the true cause of the violation. If this is not done, then the disease will progress, the general condition will worsen, and halitosis will become more intense.
Forms of Halitosis
In modern medicine, several forms of halitosis are distinguished, the treatment of which is different. Therapy is prescribed exclusively by a specialist after a thorough examination. Self-treatment cannot be carried out, as it can lead to negative and irreversible consequences.
Forms of halitosis:
- True Unpleasant odors from the oral cavity are felt by others. This type of violation is of two types - physiological and pathological. The first is the smell resulting from starvation, and the second is diseases of the oral cavity and internal organs.
- Pseudo form. The unpleasant odor is not very pronounced, those around it almost do not feel, but the patient at the same time feels insecure.
- Halitophobia. The patient is constantly in an anxious state due to an imaginary unpleasant odor from the oral cavity. In this case, the patient is advised to consult a psychiatrist.
Only a specialist can determine the form of the disease.
Diagnostics
If the patient noticed a white lump in his throat with an unpleasant odor, then you should not postpone the visit to the hospital. The doctor will pay attention to complaints and severe symptoms, will analyze the general condition of the patient. Then it is recommended to evaluate the severity of the smell from the oral cavity. This method is called organoleptic. In order for the results to be reliable, before a visit to the doctor in 24-48 hours, the patient should not take spicy, spicy foods and use smelling cosmetics.
During the examination, attention is paid to the oral cavity, tongue, throat, larynx, nose and nasopharynx. The patient is prescribed to undergo a radiography or computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses. If the dentist or ENT specialist does not reveal a violation, then the patient is sent for additional consultation to a gastroenterologist, pulmonologist. A biochemical blood test is mandatory, attention is paid to the level of renal and hepatic enzymes.
Is gland removal necessary for halitosis?
Many patients ask themselves: “How to remove a bad smell from the throat? Is gland removal necessary? ” Only a specialist can answer them for sure. If the patient is often diagnosed with tonsillitis, it is recommended that the tonsils be removed surgically to get rid of halitosis.
After the operation, the patient's condition will improve significantly, putrefied plugs and food debris will no longer accumulate in the throat. Thus, the favorable environment for the propagation of pathogens will disappear. However, tonsillectomy is considered a radical method that is rarely used.
In modern medicine, there are other ways to solve this problem. For example, permanent removal of plugs by washing the glands. To consolidate a positive result, the patient is advised to use medications that will stimulate the immune system and prevent exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis.
Halitosis Treatment
Treatment of an unpleasant odor can be carried out in several ways: medication, folk remedies and with the help of rinsing. Drug therapy is based on a provoking factor. If halitosis was caused by plugs in the tonsils, then the patient is prescribed antibacterial agents, immunostimulants, physiotherapeutic methods and rinsing. Treatment in this case lasts no more than 10 days.
As for antibiotics, they are recommended to be taken from the first day after the formation of traffic jams. Your doctor may prescribe Ceftriaxone, Cefin, or Augmentin. How can you gargle from an unpleasant odor? For this, antiseptic agents can be used: Furacilin, Angileks, Dioxidin. The procedure is performed at least 4 times a day. To strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to take Levamisole. In chronic rhinitis, antiviral drugs are used to help get rid of the flu, colds and runny nose. It is also possible to use antihistamines.
A bad smell from the throat without a cough can be eliminated with the help of folk remedies. The patient is recommended to carry out inhalation, rinse the mouth with decoctions of herbs - sage, oak bark, lavender essential oils. If it is not possible to rinse, then irrigation can be done. Folk remedies should be used in conjunction with medicines.
Preventive actions
Prevention of halitosis consists in full compliance with all the recommendations of a specialist. The patient is advised:
- Observe oral hygiene.
- Conduct timely treatment of diseases of the teeth and gingival tissue.
- Treat diseases of the throat, nasal cavity and ears.
- Do not start the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Constantly humidify indoor air.
- If there is chronic tonsillitis, then conduct regular washing of the tonsils.
- Lead a healthy lifestyle. Exclude the use of alcoholic beverages, smoking, exercise, more often be in the fresh air, observe the regime of work and rest.
Also, with this ailment, it is worth eating properly and balanced. Refuse canned food, fried and spicy food. At the same time, nutrition should be fractional, in small portions, it is not worth overeating, especially if diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are diagnosed.