Causes of Bad Breath: Tonsils

If you or someone you know has chronic bad breath, tonsils may actually be the root of the problem. This may seem surprising to you, since we do not usually think of tonsils as a cause of bad breath. When I picture tonsils, I think of pain, sore throats, antibiotics, and missed days from work. You are probably the same. But tonsils can also cause chronic bad breath, which is more formally known to dentists and sufferers alike as halitosis. If you are still confused, it’s okay. In this article I will tell you all about how something as simple as a tonsil can contribute to your dental health – as well as the bad breath that plagues you.

The Tonsils: What Are They?

Tonsils are the little organs in the back of your throat that produce white blood cells for your body’s immune system. They help to fight off upper respiratory conditions, but unfortunately this is offset by how easy they are to infect. Bacteria often gets to the tonsils and causes all sorts of problems with them, chiefly tonsillitis, resulting in removal for many people in the population. One of the problems that results from sick tonsils comes with things in your throat called tonsil stones.

Tonsil stones are formed when bacteria from infected tonsils collects and forms with other debris. This collection of bacteria and debris will essentially rot in your throat and form tonsil stones. This is important to know because of how bacteria work. When they consume debris and other bits of cells and organisms in your mouth, they produce waste products called volatile sulfur compounds (or VSCs for short). As we all know, sulfur produces a horrible smell; therefore, VSCs put off a bad odor.

Tonsils and Bad Breath

What happens when you have tonsil stones gathering in your throat? One noticeable result is bad breath. The VSCs we mentioned above put off bad odors that move throughout your mouth. Now, when you open your mouth and exhale, the smell wafts out, resulting in the bad breath that we all despise. What’s worse is that simply brushing your teeth will not make these odors go away. If anything it will mask the smell temporarily, but soon your mouth will still have a very unpleasant and unacceptable smell and taste.

Tonsils, as you can see, can be a cause of halitosis – or chronic bad breath. This is because the problem is not so easily resolved as other problems with your hygiene (and may have nothing to do with your oral or dental hygiene at all). To cure this condition, and help get rid of your bad breath, you should consult a physician. If the cause of your tonsillitis is bacteria, then the doctor will administer an antibiotic, such as penicillin. The antibiotic will attack the bacteria, which will then go away – and with it, hopefully, your halitosis. If you do not want to go to a doctor, then you can try to scrape the tonsil stones out yourself with a Q-tip or a tongue depressor – but be careful not to hurt your throat.

In essence, bad breath can be caused by your tonsils. You may think that this means your bad breath is here to stay, but that is far from the truth. Remember: If you have bad breath, tonsils can be the cause – but there is a cure.