Reoccurring tonsillitis often leads to the removal of one's tonsils. This is a surgical procedure, referred to as a tonsillectomy, that takes several weeks to completely heal from. During this time, it is not uncommon for you to experience bad breath 1. Bad breath can be embarrassing so waiting three weeks for the throat to heal may not be the answer you are looking for 1. Fortunately, there are a few pro-active things you can do to get rid of the bad breath while your throat is healing 1.

Drink only water until your throat has healed. Water will flush away any bacteria that may be in your mouth, while sugary drinks will make the problem worse. Bacteria that is left to remain in your mouth will begin to smell.

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Mix one tbsp. of salt with a glass of warm water and gargle with it several times per day. This will also help keep bacteria levels low while your throat heals.

Brush your teeth and tongue after each meal with a baking soda based toothpaste. Baking soda is a strong odor remover and will help eliminate bad breath while you wait for your throat to heal 1.

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Use a humidifier throughout the night to keep the back of your throat from drying out. The moisture will help reduce the odors.

Gargle with a mouthwash that contains the ingredients chlorine dioxide and zinc before you go out to run your errands. The Mayo Clinic recommends those ingredients because they are known for neutralizing odor-causing bacteria 1.

Tips Use a new toothbrush as soon as your surgery is complete. Once your mouth heals, throw that toothbrush away and get a new one. Change toothbrushes every three months after that to keep bacteria from building up on your toothbrush.