Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sleep apnea and bad breath

There are many reasons for bad breath such as diet, bacteria, medication and alcohol among other things. But did you know that sleep apnea can also cause bad breath.


Bad breath (halitosis) can be very embarrassing and often times difficult to get rid of. No matter how much mouth wash you use or how many times that you floss each day your breath still has a distinct odor about it. You try to get to the root of the problem but you just can’t understand why you have bad breath.

Maybe it is sleep apnea.

It is understandable why eating garlic and other food gives you bad breath. And it very believable that alcohol, in large quantities, can make your breath reek. But why sleep apnea? If you have sleep apnea and you breathe through your mouth your throat becomes very dry at night. All that air coming in and all that gasping dries out the throat.

What happens is that saliva controls the bacteria in the mouth, the same bacteria that can cause bad breath. When saliva production is affected by breathing through the mouth, the bacteria survives and creates the bad breath.

Of course if you fix the sleep apnea with the cpap or surgery then you won’t be able to blame your bad breath on sleep apnea.

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7 comments:

  1. This is first time for me to hear that sleep apnea couse bad breath.

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  2. I can attest this is true. My husband has wicked bad breath. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea, had the throat surgery, but still sleeps with his wide mouth open. He also breathes through his mouth all day, so...he has constant bad breath.

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  3. i just found out about this...i need help can someone please tell me how i can fix this

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  4. If this is related to sleep apnea you might want to check with your dentist

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  5. this very well maybe my husband's problem i think he has sleep apnea matter of fact im sure of it but he has never went to a doctor to get checked but anyway he sleeps with his mouth open and the bedroom stinks all the time from it. dont know how to tell him without hurting his feelings. i have told him from time to time when we were out that his breath smells but to tell him that while he sleeps...

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