Wet weather causes dry mouth, bad breath

As the warm, dry months of summer come to a close, residents in many parts of the country are bracing for wetter weather. While this may mean good things for their lawns and gardens, it may harm their oral health and contribute to bad breath.

Health experts warn that mold and allergen levels increase during times of wet weather, which can cause increased sinus congestion in many people. Vicki Coury, chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene at Oklahoma University, told HealthCannal.com that this increases mouth breathing, causing dry mouth.

"The obstruction of nasal passages naturally increases mouth breathing, which reduces the amount of saliva we produce and results in dry mouth," she told the news source. "Dry mouth is an oral health issue, because it increases a person's risk of gum disease, tooth decay and mouth infections."

She added that individuals who experience this problem should begin drinking more water throughout the day to moisten their mouth.

If water is not enough to resolve the problem, individuals may want to consider specialty breath freshening products. These mouthwashes are specially formulated to kill many of the bacteria that cause bad breath and gingivitis.