As anyone who finds themselves interacting with people on a daily basis would know intimately, the skill and ability to pull off a successful social interaction is incredibly important.
For those who already suffer from social anxiety and the like, you would obviously want all the help you can get.
A quick internet search reveals a plethora of advice available, from general tips – such as how to appear as if you are looking someone in the eye if you struggle with such an action, to oddly specific advice, such as who goes through the door last in Arabic cultures.
Obviously, a universal basic aspect of successful social interaction is personal hygiene.
After all, nobody likes interacting with someone who is filthy!
It makes for an incredibly unpleasant experience and leaves behind a sour impression.
As a result, plenty of industries have sprung up around this need for good personal hygiene.
One of the more niche – but no less popular! – industries you will be familiar with is in regards to bad breath.
Fortunately for most people, this is not a common concern, as proper dental hygiene is usually enough to keep foul breath at bay.
Sadly, Renee Buckler is among the unlucky ones.
Having struggled with bad breath for years on end, Buckler was at the end of her rope.
She couldn’t figure out what was wrong – she had impeccable dental hygiene, thanks to having followed the dental suggestions given to her religiously.
She didn’t skip brushing her teeth twice a day, was a regular flosser, and even utilized mouthwash on a daily basis.
Despite all the effort, she put in, it wasn’t until she sought the help of a local dental specialist was the root cause of her problem discovered.
As it turned out, Buckler was suffering from a condition medically called tonsilloliths, also known colloquially as tonsil stones.
What you may not have been aware of is that the tonsil actually has tiny pockets that can collect debris and particles of food.
Normally, these pockets are cleaned out naturally with the passing of time, but for some folks, not everything gets cleaned out.
The remaining debris then hardens via calcification, which is a process that is assisted by certain enzymes.
White or yellowish in color, these little stones are the source of the foul smell emanating from a hapless sufferer’s mouth.
This is because these are essentially food that is still decaying while in the mouth, thanks to the presence of oral bacteria.
Thankfully, this condition can be easily resolved via the use of laser ablation, wherein laser beams are used to destroy the stones.
After a short procedure, Buckler’s bad breath was finally resolved.
As it turns out, tonsil stones are actually quite common and are often the cause of persistent bad breath.
This is especially so if you happen to have larger tonsils, as the bigger crevices caused by the tonsils makes the accumulation of food particles more likely.
If you find yourself unable to get rid of your bad breath no matter what you do, perhaps consider checking for tonsil stones!