Everyone has experienced a case of a cold. Waking up with a sniffle, sore throat or slight cough isn’t uncommon, especially during the busy fall season. A common cold can lead to various unpleasant symptoms, and bad breath is just one that many people may not immediately associate with the illness. However, a cold can indeed contribute to bad breath due to several factors. To learn more about how illnesses impact your body and when to seek medical care for treatment, keep reading.
If you’re currently experiencing illness symptoms and are in need of rapid relief, AFC Urgent Care Braintree has you covered. Our walk-in clinic provides same-day illness care for patients of all ages, 7 days a week. Simply walk into the clinic!
Why Does a Cold Cause Bad Breath?
While you may think that you are concealing your illness symptoms well, one factor that many people don’t consider is that colds can cause bad breath. Nasal congestion forces people to breathe through their mouths, which dries out the oral cavity and reduces saliva production. Since saliva helps cleanse the mouth by washing away food particles and bacteria, a lack of saliva can lead to the buildup of odor-causing bacteria. Thus, while not a direct symptom of the cold itself, bad breath can often accompany it due to these secondary effects.
Having a sore throat is a common cold symptom that can also contribute to bad breath. This is often due to the underlying causes of the throat irritation. When the throat is sore, it is usually the result of infections such as a cold or flu. Infections cause the buildup of mucus and post-nasal drip, which can coat the throat and lead to the growth of odor-causing bacteria. Additionally, if tonsils are inflamed or have debris stuck in their crevices (tonsil stones), this can further worsen bad breath. While you may not think of bad breath being an illness symptom, it is important to pay attention to your body and monitor your symptoms to understand what is normal.
How to Get Rid of Bad Breath from Cold
Getting rid of bad breath caused by a cold involves addressing both the cold symptoms and maintaining proper oral hygiene. Here are some effective steps:
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep your mouth moist, which reduces dry mouth and washes away bacteria that cause bad breath.
- Practice good oral hygiene: Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily to remove food particles and bacteria. Also, brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper to remove odor-causing bacteria from its surface.
- Use a mouth rinse: Antibacterial or antiseptic mouthwashes can help kill the bacteria responsible for bad breath. Avoid alcohol-based rinses, as they can dry out your mouth further.
- Treat nasal congestion: Use a saline nasal spray or decongestant to clear nasal passages. This helps reduce mouth breathing, which can lead to dry mouth and bad breath.
- Address post-nasal drip: Gargle with warm salt water to help soothe a sore throat and clear mucus that may be causing bad breath.
- Suck on sugar-free lozenges or gum: Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on lozenges can stimulate saliva production, which helps combat dry mouth and bad breath.
- Treat the cold: Ultimately, bad breath from a cold will improve as the cold itself gets better. Rest, stay hydrated, and consider over-the-counter medications to alleviate cold symptoms.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Braintree for Same-Day Illness Symptom Diagnosis & Treatment
Although cold symptoms tend to be mild, they can be irritating to manage. Having bad breath doesn’t impact your health, however, it may be an indication of a secondary infection. If you’re experiencing abnormal symptoms such as bad breath, AFC Urgent Care Braintree is here to provide convenient illness diagnosis services.
Our clinic has an on-site laboratory, allowing our medical providers to conduct a full evaluation of your symptoms and perform any necessary diagnostic testing to accurately diagnose and treat you. We never require patients to schedule an appointment in advance, simply walk into the clinic for prompt care from one of our board-certified medical providers. For more information, contact us directly by calling (781) 848-2273 or schedule your visit in advance online.
