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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Can Be The Reason For Rotten Taste In The Mouth ?

For more than a month now i ve had a rotten taste in my mouth , towards the back of my throat . my tonsils are huge and i ve had tonsiliths but this is different. its a constant taste/smell of decay. I put my finger on my tonsil and smelled it and it smelled horrible. any ideas of what is going on? again its been more than a month now and the taste/smell has yet to go away no matter what
Fri, 4 May 2012
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
hi there,

Bad breath, or halitosis is commonly seen in ppl having tonsil stones/tonsilloliths which appear as small white spots. it's particularly common in those who've suffered from tonsillitis(enlarged tonsils) or who have a dry mouth as a result of medication such as painkillers.

The tonsils are sacs of lymphatic tissue on either side of the throat. They are part of the body's immune system and contain lymphocytes - cells that prevent and fight infections. The tonsils are meant to function like nets, trapping incoming bacteria and virus particles passing through your throat and preventing them travelling through the body. Their location makes them the front line of defence against infections of the throat and upper airways. However, it also means they become a potential trap for food particles. tonsilloliths are actually lumps of calcified food, mucus and bacteria.Once bits of debris get trapped, they attract bacteria, harden and start to decay, which is why sufferers can have bad breath & a bad 'metallic' taste in the mouth

i recommend you do the following

1.maintain good oral hygiene, brush twice a day, floss and use a non-alcoholic mouthwash twice-a-day will help to flush the food away.
2.it is possible to remove tonsil stones by flushing them out with warm salt water.This can be done by emptying a nasal spray bottle and filling it with warm water and half a teaspoon of salt to spray onto the tonsils.
3.Push the tongue out hard and try pushing the muscles at the side of the throat may also help dislodge the stones, too.
4.Drink plenty of water as this keeps the saliva moving throughout the oral cavity and flushes out hidden bacteria.
5.Even chewing on a dry cracker every day may also help rub away the tonsil stones.

if these measures dont help u need to vist an ENT specialist he might help you with a procedure known as laser resurfacing, to take off the top layer of tonsillar tissue. In this way, the edges of the pits are flattened out, so they can no longer trap any material or a more drastic option is to have the tonsils removed.

regards

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What Can Be The Reason For Rotten Taste In The Mouth ?

hi there, Bad breath, or halitosis is commonly seen in ppl having tonsil stones/tonsilloliths which appear as small white spots. it s particularly common in those who ve suffered from tonsillitis(enlarged tonsils) or who have a dry mouth as a result of medication such as painkillers. The tonsils are sacs of lymphatic tissue on either side of the throat. They are part of the body s immune system and contain lymphocytes - cells that prevent and fight infections. The tonsils are meant to function like nets, trapping incoming bacteria and virus particles passing through your throat and preventing them travelling through the body. Their location makes them the front line of defence against infections of the throat and upper airways. However, it also means they become a potential trap for food particles. tonsilloliths are actually lumps of calcified food, mucus and bacteria.Once bits of debris get trapped, they attract bacteria, harden and start to decay, which is why sufferers can have bad breath & a bad metallic taste in the mouth i recommend you do the following 1.maintain good oral hygiene, brush twice a day, floss and use a non-alcoholic mouthwash twice-a-day will help to flush the food away. 2.it is possible to remove tonsil stones by flushing them out with warm salt water.This can be done by emptying a nasal spray bottle and filling it with warm water and half a teaspoon of salt to spray onto the tonsils. 3.Push the tongue out hard and try pushing the muscles at the side of the throat may also help dislodge the stones, too. 4.Drink plenty of water as this keeps the saliva moving throughout the oral cavity and flushes out hidden bacteria. 5.Even chewing on a dry cracker every day may also help rub away the tonsil stones. if these measures dont help u need to vist an ENT specialist he might help you with a procedure known as laser resurfacing, to take off the top layer of tonsillar tissue. In this way, the edges of the pits are flattened out, so they can no longer trap any material or a more drastic option is to have the tonsils removed. regards