Dental Health Issues

Find information about other dental problems such as bad breath, tonsil troubles, canker sores, and more.

Bad Breath

Changing Bad Breath Bad breath is often caused by a buildup of bacteria in your mouth that causes inflammation and gives off noxious odors or gases that smell like sulfur - or worse. Bad Breath (Halitosis) Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Quiz: Do You Know What Causes Your Bad Breath? Do you know what causes your bad breath? WebMD quizzes you about bad breath, its causes and prevention, good dental hygiene, and diseases that give you bad breath.

Dry Mouth

Dry Mouth Overview We all need saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. When we don't produce enough saliva, our mouth gets dry and uncomfortable. Slideshow: Dry Mouth: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Dry mouth is more than just feeling thirsty. It affects your overall health. WebMD looks at the causes and symptoms of dry mouth, plus ways to treat it.

Tonsils and Glands

Salivary Gland Problems Your salivary glands produce as much as a quart of saliva each day. Saliva is important to lubricate your mouth, help with swallowing, protect your teeth against bacteria, and aid in the digestion of food. Salivary Gland Stones A salivary gland stone - also called salivary duct stone, salivary calculus, or sialolith - is a calcified structure that may form inside a salivary gland or duct and can block the flow of saliva into the mouth. Tonsil Stones (Tonsilloliths) Your tonsils are filled with nooks and crannies where bacteria and other materials, including dead cells and mucous, can become trapped. When this occurs, the debris can become concentrated in white formations that occur in the pockets. Tonsillitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments Sometimes the tonsils become infected. Overwhelmed by bacteria or viruses, they swell and become inflamed, a condition known as tonsillitis. Peritonsillar Abscess A peritonsillar abscess forms in the tissues of the throat next to one of the tonsils. An abscess is a collection of pus that forms near an area of infected skin or other soft tissue.

Canker and Cold Sores

Canker Sores The exact cause of most canker sores is unknown. Stress or tissue injury is thought to be the cause of simple canker sores. Cold Sores Cold sores - also called fever blisters - are a painful infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Other

Thrush Thrush can affect anyone, though it occurs most often in babies and toddlers, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Is Your Sore Throat a Cold, Strep Throat, or Tonsillitis? Wonder if your painful sore throat is from a cold, strep throat, or tonsillitis? Here's help with how to tell. Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) occur as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. These disorders are often incorrectly called TMJ, which stands for temporomandibular joint. Oral Cancer Oral cancer, which includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat), can be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated early. Oral Side Effects of Medications Generally speaking, medicines are designed to make you feel better. But all drugs, whether taken by mouth or injected, come with a risk of side effects, and hundreds of drugs are known to cause mouth (oral) problems.