We know that moment all too well—you’re having a great conversation with your friends, and you happen to catch a whiff of your breath. It’s hot. It’s stinky. It’s gross. You don’t want your friends to find out, so you pop in a mint and hope for the best.
Having the case of bad breath is never fun. Luckily, in most cases, we know the triggers. For instance, eating garlic and not brushing your teeth are obvious reasons—but there are a few bad breath culprits that aren’t so well-known.
Check out these surprising reasons for your stinky breath and find out how to solve them.
You Have Tonsil Stones
The National Center for Biotechnology Information reported that 75 percent of patients with high amounts of sulfur (which is a leading cause of bad breath) in their mouth had tonsil stones.
If you’re not familiar, tonsil stones are a mixture of bacteria and debris that settle in the back of the throat and collect in small pockets on the tonsils. The cure? Use baking soda. “Gargle with baking soda to help remove bacteria,” says NYC-Based Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Marc Lowenberg. “The alkaline works by eliminating the acidity in your mouth.”
MORE: The Best Foods to Eat For White Teeth
Breath Fresheners
According to the American Chemical Society, the sugar in mints can make the bacteria in our mouth grow. Mints and breath fresheners are great for temporarily masking bad breath, but not for the long run. If you must use mints, opt for the sugar-free type. And, as Lowenberg suggests, use a tongue scraper to get hard food particles that can cause bad breath.
Fresh Air
According to Reader’s Digest, while a breath of fresh air is certainly good for you, too much cold air in the winter dries out your mouth and can wreak havoc. The result can be bad breath related to allergies, nasal drainage, or chronic dry mouth.
You Have Tonsillitis
If you have a sore-throat disease, you might have an ongoing case of bad breath. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Tonsillectomy, a surgery that removes the two glands in the back of your throat, can help treat the sickness and bad breath.
MORE: 7 In-Flight Beauty Tips Straight From a Pro Crew Member
You’re Overweight
According to researchers from Tel Aviv University, the more overweight a person is, the more likely they are to have bad breath. The team discovered that obesity may be a risk factor for halitosis and maybe because of sleep apnea, heavy breathing, sleep apnea or eating lots of unhealthy foods.
So, what should you do if you have bad breath, or know someone who suffers from halitosis? “You should tell people in your family if they have bad breath,” says Prof. Mel Rosenberg, of the Department of Human Microbiology and The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. “It is curable in almost all instances, and it can be a sign of disease. As for work colleagues, they might be happy for the advice, but they might not.”
