Bad Breath

Persistent dry mouth, called xerostomia, occurs when the flow of saliva decreases.  This is usually due to medications, breathing through the mouth, or salivary gland problems.  The enzymes in saliva help to clean the mouth and break down food particles that are known to cause odor.  To get saliva flowing again, try sucking on sugarless candies or chewing sugar-free gum to increase your fluid intake.