GETTING RID OF BAD BREATH

Table of Contents

Introduction

What Is Bad Breath?

What Causes Bad Breath?

What Are The Symptoms of Bad Breath?

Bad Breath And Serious Health Issues.

Bad Breath In Children
Getting Rid of Bad Breath

Some Final Thoughts

Resources

INTRODUCTION

Millions of people suffer embarrassment due to bad breath. The technical name for bad breath is "halitosis." Take a walk down the personal care aisle of any drug or grocery Store and you will find product after product all dealing with this condition.

Before we can discuss how to get rid of bad breath, we need to have an understanding of the causes and symptoms.

Interesting to note is the fact that dental hygiene was practiced as far back as ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks used to chew on anise seeds. Anise tastes like licorice. The Romans discovered that chewing on parsley would disguise the smell of alcohol on their breath. They were probably unaware that parsley is high in chlorophyll which turns carbon dioxide into oxygen making it a natural as one of the first breath fresheners.

Everyone has an occasional problem with bad breath which is why Americans spend more than $200 million a year on products to freshen the breath. Pills, mouthwash, breath mints, toothpaste and more comprise this industry.

Our discussion addresses these as well as other more serious sides of the condition. Bad breath that is persistent, consistent and resistant to normal remedies can be symptomatic of a more serious condition. That is what we will discuss in this guide.

WHAT IS BAD BREATH?

Bad breath is the side effect of the action taken by certain bacteria that live in the mouth, the tongue and the tonsils. The fact is that we all have these bacteria in our mouth. These bacteria pretty much remain dormant until some action in their environment causes them to change.

Because they are anaerobic and sulfur producing, when they react to these changes they produce chemicals compounds. Some of these compounds smell and taste terrible like hydrogen sulfide which smells like rotten eggs and other compounds. We will discuss some of these odors and possible relative odors further on.

WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH?

Before we begin to explore the remedies for getting rid of bad breath, we need to have a thorough understanding of the causes and symptoms. Some of the causes (but not all) that can replace normal breath are:

Abscessed tooth.

Infection of the tissue surrounding a tooth that usually fills with pus which has a very smelly odor.

Alcoholism.

Immoderate use of alcohol causes decreased production of saliva causing dryness of the mouth. Dry mouth is a leading cause of bad breath.

Atrophic rhinitis.

This is an inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane usually a result of nasal drip due to colds or sinusitis.

Cancers.

Cancers such as esophageal, pharyngeal, oral tumors, leukemia, pulmonary and stomach cancer all present severe bad breath due to the decay that is taking place. Additionally, the medical treatments for these cancers can exacerbate the bad breath.

Oral Candida.

This is a fungal infection of the mouth cavity. Also known as thrush, it is fairly common among infants, diabetics, chemotherapy patients and people with HIV or AIDS.

Cavities.

These holes in the outer two layers of a tooth contain decay which in turn produces bad breath.

Dentures.

Dentures are prosthetic replacements for natural teeth and are just as susceptible to the build up of plaque which causes bad breath. Denture wearers also have a tendency toward dry mouth which also increases the risk of bad breath.

Diabetes.

People who have diabetes may also have bad breath. This occurs because of poor control of blood sugar, the problem with most diabetics. Gum disease is a problem for diabetics. And, diabetes is a problem for people with gum disease.

It can be difficult to determine which comes first, the diabetes or the gum disease, but the underlying problem is clear. High blood sugar contributes to gum disease. Diabetics have trouble controlling the high blood sugar. Gum disease is a leading cause of bad breath, hence the correlation.

The American Dental Association reports that people with type 1 diabetes 5 are at greater risk for gingivitis.

Drugs.

Certain drugs such as antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure meds, steroids, cancer therapy drugs, diuretics and oral contraceptives are all known to increase the propensity for bad breath as well as an increased risk for gum disease.

Dry mouth.

Sounds like such an innocuous little phrase, doesn’t it? Thought to be a leading cause of bad breath, dry mouth occurs when saliva production is reduced and carries its own nasty little package of problems.

The medical term for dry mouth is “xerostomia” (pronounced ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah). Saliva performs vital work in your body. It aids in digestion by using the enzymes to help break up different foods and also makes it easier to talk.

You may not realize that it can also help to prevent tooth decay by rinsing away food particles from between the teeth as well as the gums. Saliva also helps you taste the food you eat and makes it easier for you to swallow that food. It is also known for neutralizing any damaging acids.

It is believed to be caused primarily by certain medications which we listed in the previous paragraph. The symptoms of dry mouth can include:

Dry, rough tongue

Poor sense of taste

Burning sensation in your mouth

Increased plaque

Reduced saliva production

Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS and stroke are also attributed to causing dry mouth as well as pregnancy and/or hormonal changes due to menopause.

Increasing fluid intake can help to re-hydrate the mouth. It’s important to keep it moist so you don’t lose all the benefits provided by saliva production.

Food or beverages.

We will discuss this in the next section.

Foreign body in the nose.

Do you have small children? This is a situation that requires immediate treatment to prevent serious consequences.

Gum disease/Gingivitus.

This is inflammation of soft tissue surrounding the teeth. This condition is much more serious than a single abscess. Gingivitis is the precursor to periodontitis which is the final step of gum disease that can ultimately lead to toot loss. This will be discussed in depth a bit further on.

Hepatic encephalopathy.

This is a rare but possible cause as a result of liver disease.

Impacted tooth.

An impacted tooth is one that rebelliously will not erupt into its proper position and most often results in infection, which we know is another cause of bad breath.

Periodontal disease.

It’s hard to believe that in a 2002 poll of 1,000 Americans over the age of 35, it was determined that 60% of adults polled knew little or nothing about gum disease! A tragedy when you consider that gum disease is the leading factor in tooth loss, even healthy teeth.

Your teeth can appear to be healthy and disease free, when under the surface gum disease can stalwartly march on creating a condition that will ultimately lead to serious tooth loss. Bad breath is a “red flag” to help determine if this problem is prevalent in your mouth.

Healthy gum tissue forms a shallow groove at the point where the tooth meets the gum line. This disease occurs when the anaerobic, sulfur producing bacteria we discussed earlier, become trapped beneath the gum line.

This is a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria and they will settle in and take residence.

Not recognizing and dealing with the problem will result in serious dental problems up to and including loss of teeth and even underlying bone disease.

If you are diagnosed with serious periodontal disease, work to save your teeth needs to begin as soon as possible.

The first step that your dentist will take is probably what is called “scaling and root planing.” This is a non-surgical procedure to remove the deposits of plaque on the surface of the tooth including the root. Since periodontal disease rarely occurs in just one tooth, this will probably need to be done to all your teeth.

The dentist will scrap the surfaces of the tooth below the gum line to remove all traces of plaque clear down to the bottom of the pocket. He will then smooth the surface of the root to encourage healthy gum tissue to heal. This process also discourages plaque from reforming.

Depending on how involved your case might be, the dentist may prescribe medication to assist in healing or control pain and potential infection.

More diagnostics are required before a prognosis of your case of periodontal disease can be given. Each deposit of plaque creates its own “pocket” and the dentist needs to measure the depth of the pockets that were scaled during your first visit.

Often, the scaling procedure works well to eliminate the problem and you are free from further treatment other than normal examinations. At this point you would be well served by employing a daily regimen of preventative maintenance to insure the disease does not return.

However, if the diseased pockets are deep and extending into actual bone, you may need to have surgery in order to keep the teeth. If this is the case, your dentist will refer you to a periodontist, a doctor who specializes in periodontal disease.

The periodontist will use a surgical process to aggressively penetrate the diseased areas and ferret out the plaque and bacteria. The pockets where plaque resides must be sealed off so the environment does not invite a return of the disease.

In some cases bone surgery or bone grafts may be necessary to rebuild bone that was destroyed by the periodontal disease. If there was substantial tissue damage grafts may need to be used to replace the soft tissue. This procedure involves removing gum tissue from your palate to cover the areas where severe gingivitis has penetrated too far into the gum line.

Your dentist or oral surgeon may also recommend further treatment and/or medications. Here is a list of FDA approved products to help combat periodontal disease:

Pharyngitis.

This is an inflammation in the area at the back of the mouth known as the Pharynx as usually occurs because of a virus.

This is the same area where you begin to feel a slight “scratchiness” at the onset of a cold or flu. The bacteria involved can lead to more serious streptococcus, commonly known as “strep throat.” If it progresses it can be highly contagious and because it is bacterial it will produce bad breath.

Poor dental hygiene.

We have discussed some of the leading causes of bad breath, but nothing matches poor dental hygiene as a leading cause of bad breath.

Lack of brushing, flossing and regular checkups are the most important weapon for ridding oneself of bad breath and preventing more serious conditions from developing.

Sinusitis.

This is an inflammation of the sinuses, with or without pus and can carry along with it not only bad breath but a terrible taste in the mouth.

Tobacco smoking.

Tobacco smoking encourages growth of bacteria by drying the mouth. As we discussed previously, dry mouth is one of the leading causes of bad breath.

Zenker's diverticulum.

This is not a “common” cause, but does exist and can be very serious if not treated. It involves the perforation of the esophageal mucous membrane and does cause bad breath.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BAD BREATH?

This may sound like a "no brainer" because you may think that bad breath is obvious to the person who has bad breath. That is not necessarily the case.

You may have cupped your hands and blown into them to try and determine if your breath smells, but that does not work because your body will naturally acclimatize to its own odor. This is necessary so that the sensory system will recognize odors that are external to the body.

If this is the case, then you need to look at external symptoms:

Do you experience nasal drip?

Do you have allergies?

Do you have a chronic dry mouth?

Do you experience a sour taste in your mouth?

Do you have a coating on your tongue?

Do your friends offer you gum or breath mints?

Do strangers turn their heads away when you speak?

These may sound very basic questions but if you answered yes to any of them there is a good probability that you have a problem with bad breath. If you answered any of them with "I don't know," you need to become pro-active and observe if any of the conditions apply to your situation.

BAD BREATH AND SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES

Certain breath odors may be symptomatic of health issues which require immediate attention.

Odd odors.

For instance if the odor smells "fruitlike" this may indicate that your body is trying to expell acetone. This conditions occurs because of a process called ketoacidosis.

Ketoacidosis happens when insulin is not present in the body. If insulin is not present, body fat is substituted for the insulin, and when metabolized, ketones invade the bloodstream. This condition can result in a diabetic coma and should be considered life-threatening.

If you have ever had a tube inserted in your stomach through your mouth or nose, you may have experienced "fecal odor" in your breath. This can also occur when there is a bowel obstruction or prolonged period of vomiting. An ammonia or fishlike odor can be associated with chronic kidney failure also known as chronic renal failure.

Drug abuse.

This is a sad footnote to our culture today. In years past this subject wouldn’t even be considered in a guide such as this. A study conducted in 2003 revealed that 12.3 million Americans 12 years old and over tried methamphetamine at least once. This number is staggering when you consider that represents 5.2% of our population.

Not only are the health risks tremendous but the damage to the teeth is often irreversible. Dentists have reported that the teeth of methamphetamine users are described as rotting, black, stained and literally falling apart and crumbling. The drug is highly acidic and reduces the production of saliva. Users tend to grind their teeth and crave sugar in any form. The drug also remains in the system for up to 12 hours prolonging the exposure during a period when the user probably will not even consider brushing or flossing.

Removal of the teeth is often the only course of action.

Eating disorders.

We have mentioned that vomiting is a known cause of bad breath. Hand in hand with vomiting are potentially dangerous disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.

Bulimia involves the practice of repeated binge eating followed up by self-induced vomiting called “purging” and is normally done secretly.

The reasons for engaging in this practice are different for each participant. However, it is generally accepted by the medical community that those who suffer from bulimia eat for “comfort.”

They use food as a therapy and consume large amounts to induce inner feeling of well being. It appears to temporarily drive away feelings of anger, loss, sadness and other negative, human conditions.

Each time they binge, they need to purge so they can recapture the emotional band-aids they get while binging. It is an extremely dangerous practice.

The purging process is also accomplished by fasting, taking diet pills or using diuretics. Not only does the practice rapidly deplete the body of natural resources, it also creates a dry mouth situation which causes bad breath. If you know of someone who you suspect may be on a damaging “binge eating” program watch for the signs of bad breath as well. If you suspect they may be engaged in this behavior, intervention may be in order.

Anorexia is also extremely harmful. While it may manifest itself in some of the same ways as bulimia, it is different in that the victim has a fear of weight gain and even the slightest ounce of body fat just can’t be tolerated. Rather than binging and purging, purging is the tool of preference for people who suffer from anorexia.

Body piercing.

Our purpose of discussion that relates to body piercing is obviously directed toward oral piercing. It is not our intent to make any judgment of the practice, merely to point out some of the risks involved as well as bad breath resulting from the practice.

The most obvious risk factor is infection which can occur when there is a lesion on any part of the body. However, as we know that the mouth is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, whether it is “good” bacteria or “bad” bacteria.

You might think that the risk is greater at the time of piercing and that would be correct. However, continual handling of the jewelry after placement greatly increases the odds of infection down the road. Oral piercing may also put you at risk for blood contamination and increase the possibility of hepatitis B, C, D and G.

Damage to the blood vessels in the tongue or cheek can induce prolonged bleeding and in some cases nerve damage can occur.

Just having the jewelry in the mouth can damage the soft tissue around the teeth causing the gums to recede.

Constant clicking of the jewelry against natural and/or restored teeth can cause the enamel or veneers to crack or chip.

Oral jewelry can also create more saliva than is necessary. Some people have reported problems with speech and a pronounced reduction in the ability to pronounce words properly. Others say that their ability to chew was impaired.

Another worse case scenario is the risk of having the jewelry dislodge causing a dangerous choking situation or even swallowing the jewelry and having it end up in the digestive tract which is dangerous itself.

Finally, there is no doubt that having a foreign body in your mouth is going to create bad breath. Keeping the area around the piercing 100% clean 100% of the time is impossible. It only takes a few tiny particles lodged in or around the entrance and exit of the jewelry stud to create bad breath. And, that’s even before you add in the factors discussed above.

So, if you do choose to engage in the practice prepare yourself for some pretty hefty maintenance and the possibility of infection or even worse circumstances.

These examples are not the norm, of course, but if you do experience any of them, it would be prudent to contact a physician especially if they replace previously normal breath odor.

Bad Breath In Children

All of the causes and symptoms of bad breath that we have discussed also apply to children. However, there are other concerns. Bad breath is very common among children. The most predominant cause of bad breath in children is breathing through the mouth.

Mouth breathing causes the mouth to dry out. A dry mouth provides a perfect environment for the bacteria that causes bad breath to grow.

Dry mouth is the main cause of bad breath in both children and adults. Children tend to breath through their mouth more often than adults and appear to have more instances of colds, allergies, sinus infections and other nose and ear problems.

A child who sucks their thumb or blanket can also dry out the mouth. Older children who smoke or use alcohol also set themselves up for dry mouth.

Nasal blockage is also a frequent cause of bad breath in toddlers. Toddlers will often poke items up their noses and then forget they are there. If you observe bad breath and/or a smelly discharge from one nostril you need to contact your pediatrician for immediate treatment.

Getting Rid of Bad Breath

Now that we have covered the causes and symptoms of bad breath we can begin discussing remedies to help you get rid of the problem.

It is important to understand that for the most part we will be discussing bad breath remedies that would apply to an average bad breath problem. Serious medical conditions require intervention by your dental physician.

After visiting your dentist, if he cannot find a medical explanation for a persistent case of bad breath, consider trying someof the remedies we present.

De-Mystifying the Mouthwash Myth

As we mentioned earlier, all people have bad breath on occasion. When they do, most people immediately reach for the mouthwash. Not only is this ineffective but this action can also exacerbate the condition. Why is this so?

Mouthwash contains flavoring and dyes but most importantly the primary component is alcohol! They claim to kill bacteria, which is true in most cases. However, the bacteria is quick to return with an exponential affect because the alcoholic content causes dry mouth which is the leading cause of bad breath. It creates a very ineffectual cycle of repetition.

Commercial mouthwash products also contain other harsh chemicals. Studies have shown that excessive amounts of mouthwash irritate the gums, tongue, palate and mucous membranes in the mouth. If the user is a smoker AND consumes alcohol, heavy use of mouthwash can even cause certain cancers. It would be prudent to look at some of the other methods to deal with bad breath and stay away from the mouthwash.

If you would like to freshen your breath try preparing your own breath freshening mouthwash. A rinse consisting of a few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water will do the trick nicely just don’t count on it to kill bacteria. Also just use it as a rinse and do not swallow.

There are other essential oils that work as well. Try tea tree, myrrh, spearmint, and ginger are also effective.

Rinsing your mouth with salt water is a great home remedy for a sore throat. It is also good for eliminating bad breath. You might also try rinsing with lemon or lime water as well. Both are equally effective and may taste a bit more pleasant than salt water.

Try drinking a small amount of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water at least once a day.

Banish the breath mints and chewing gum.

Neither of these commercial products are particularly helpful as they only mask the problem and in fact could cause tooth decay. Try some of our alternative recommendations:

Remember the trick the Greeks used? Anise seed is readily available and chewing on a few of them work just as effectively today as they did several thousand years ago. Fennel, cinnamon and cloves also work well. Try popping a few into your mouth after meals to fight bad breath.

There are many other natural replacements for commercial mouthwash. Try adding a bit of baking soda to your toothpaste. After all, not only is it used in cooking and the laundry, we also use baking soda to absorb odor in the refrigerator. It will work well to help eliminate bad breath.

Did you ever wonder why parsley and mint are often used as a garnish when dining out? Just like the Greeks, remember the Romans. Chewing on parsley helps fight bad breath.

The reason is the high content of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll very quickly changes carbon dioxide into oxygen in the body. This prepares the digestive tract to prevent gases and toxins from backing up and by lubricating the tract and various valves.

Boil a mixture of myrrh resin, sage leaves and lavender flowers in a small amount of water. Gargle three times a day as a bad breath remedy.

Aloe vera will cleanse the colon and prevent toxins that could possibly back up in the digestive tract.

Getting to the “root” of the bad breath problem.

Poor dental hygiene is a major factor for the cause of bad breath. Yes, you’ve heard it before, brush and floss after every meal and make regularly trips to your dentist for cleaning and examination.

But, how many of us actually follow this regimen. Not enough, according to the American Dental Association. They report that periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States.

Periodontal disease actually takes place in two different stages. Gingivitis is the first stage and only affects the gums. Gingivitis IS reversible if caught before it moves into the second stage called periodontitis. Periodontal disease is irreversible, causing tooth loss and potential bone damage.

We have discussed the leading cause of bad breath in a previous chapter. Many of the same causes apply to the risk factors for periodontal disease such as tobacco and certain drugs. But there are other factors for periodontal disease which can also manifest as bad breath. Some of these additional risk factors are:

Ill fitting dentures or bridges

Teeth that are crooked

Old fillings that no longer fit their cavity

Pregnancy

The symptoms of encroaching periodontal disease also closely mimic some of the same symptoms of bad breath, with bad breath actually becoming symptomatic with periodontal disease. Some of these not previously mentioned are:

Bleeding gums

Teeth that are loose

Gums that are swollen and tender

Changes in the bite

Gums that are receding away from the teeth

Changes in prosthetic dentures

Periodontal disease is nothing more than plaque. While it may sound harmless, quite the opposite is true. The buildup of this plaque also causes bad breath. Get rid of the plaque and you will eliminate the bad breath and reap the benefits of healthy gums.

Plaque is the carrier for that sulfur producing bacteria that we discussed earlier. It creates a sticky film that is always present in your mouth. When you eat or drink you add to the buildup of plaque.

Plaque is a pesky creature that is also a bit shy. He likes to burrow in and hide just beneath the gum line where he develops a breeding ground for more of his bacterial friends. You can smell them, but it can be difficult to even know that plaque is hiding away and doing its damage.

This is why regular brushing and flossing is so important. You need to ferret out the problem and deal with it. It’s an ongoing process and you’ll NEVER be rid of it as long as you like to eat, drink and oh yes, live! You must brush at least twice a day to remove all traces of bits of food and plaque. Don’t forget to brush the gums as well!

Yes, you should brush after every meal, but if it isn’t possible and you don’t wish to brush after having a meal out at a restaurant, excuse yourself, visit the restroom and at least rinse your mouth well. This practice will go a long way toward healthy gums as well as reducing bad breath resulting from the bacteria remaining in the small bits of food.

You must floss every day taking care to reach every hidden scrap between the teeth.

Brush your tongue daily. Ugh! A nasty tongue has to be one of the worse offenders for bad breath. Did you know that the ancient Romans brushed their tongues daily? Amazing, isn’t it, how some practices come full circle.

Using your soft bristled brush, brush the tongue gently, taking care not to gag yourself. Do try and reach as far back as comfortable to remove as much of the offending buildup as you can. It’s in that region toward the back of the tongue that produces the majority of the bad breath.

Proper way to brush teeth.

You brush should be against the gums at a 45 degree angle. Strokes should be gentle in tooth wide increments. Brush each side and the top. Don’t forget to brush your tongue.

Proper toothbrush care.

If this topic appears to be another “no brainer” it really is not. Many people do not understand proper care of their toothbrush. Remember, it is an object that enters your mouth daily coming in contact with billions of bacteria not to mention certain instances of contamination by bleeding of the gyms or other conditions.

First of all, never share your toothbrush! There is a huge risk of cross-contamination when this practiced is followed.

Always thoroughly rinse your toothbrush after use and store it brush side up to dry naturally. If a common storage system is used, do not allow the brushes to come in contact with one another.

There are mixed thoughts regarding the storage of toothbrushes in a disinfectant. One school of thought advocates that you can do more harm by storing the toothbrush in the same disinfection repeatedly, thereby creating another possibility of cross-contamination.

Never store your toothbrush in a closed container that can set up a favorable climate for bacteria to form.

Proper way to floss.

Use a length of floss 16 to 18 inches in length. Wrap the floss around each of your middle fingers. Slip the floss between your teeth. Form a u shape against the side of one tooth. Beginning at the gum line, use a gentle rubbing motion to remove the particles of food. Repeat with each adjacent tooth remembering to take up the slack so that you are using a clean section of floss for each tooth.

Eat when you are hungry.

Avoid an empty stomach. Yep, that’s right! If you don’t eat, your saliva production is reduced. You need that saliva to wash away the bacteria and avoid dry mouth.

Drink lots of water to keep your mouth moist.

This can help your overall health as well. If you are drinking bottled water, you may be missing out on a valuable resource. Most community water systems include fluoride in your drinking water.

When you drink bottled water you lose out on that benefit. Don’t forget a home water filtration system. For example, if you are using a reverse osmosis system, all the valuable nutrients are being removed including fluoride.

Add tea to your list of preferred beverages.

It is thought that the chemical polyphenols found in tea help to prevent that sulfur producing bacteria that contributes to bad breath.

Cranberry juice.

Try drinking cranberry juice or eating cranberries. Plaque is less likely to form because the cranberries reduce the stickiness of the bacteria.

Scurvy.

Scurvy? Yes, this may shock you but there are still instances of “scurvy” in the modern world of today. Scurvy is caused by a lack of Vitamin C and can cause the gums to bleed and also manifest as bad breath. Vitamin A is also necessary for the overall health of the gums and teeth. Here is a list of nutrients that can be beneficial for bad breath and the recommended dosage:

Vitamin A: 10,000 I.U. per day

Vitamin B complex - daily

Vitamin B6 - daily

Vitamin C: 1,000 mg. three times a day

Calcium: 2,300 mg. a day

Coenzyme Q10: 30 mg. three times a day

Vitamin E: 400 mg. a day

Folic acid: 800 mcg. a day

Niacin – daily

Dairy products.

The holistic healing community suggests that dairy products may contribute to fermentation of food in the stomach. Their suggestion is to eliminate all dairy products for one week and use that as a measure to determine whether your bad breath improves.

Enzymes.

Another school of thought suggests using a digestive enzyme after eating each meal. Since necessary bacteria in the digestive system tends to thrive in a more alkaline environment creating that environment artificially may help prevent the fermentation. Try taking a small amount (about 1/8^th of a teaspoon) of pure sodium bicarbonate approximately 20 minutes after eating. It may very well improve your digestion as well as help in the prevention of bad breath.

Oral Candida treatment.

Also known as “thrush,” candida is one of those yeast (fungal) infections that can be annoying and difficult to get rid of but it can be done.

Begin with removing all refined sugar products from your diet. That includes yeast based products especially. You don’t want to pour “fertilizer” on a yeast infection.

If you have been on any type of antibiotic treatment they may have upset the creation of good bacteria that helps digestion. In this case, you need to encourage the growth of bacteria to offset bacterial loss while taking the antibiotic.

Try taking a “probiotic.” Just the opposite of an antibiotic, the probiotic introduces millions of live bacteria back into your system thereby offsetting the damage done by the anti-biotic.

The most commonly know probiotic is lactobacillus acidophilus. You may have seen L. acidophilus milk in the dairy section of your grocery store. This is milk that has been enriched with the L. acidophilus bacteria. L. acidophilus is also found in yogurt and you can find it in supplemental form at any health food store.

Bad breath and your diet.

We live in a world where food dominates. We are on sensory overload because everywhere we turn there is another delectable delight to tantalize the taste buds. Sadly, the majority of the foods that we are seduced by on a daily basis do serious damage to our teeth. In our discussion that also applies to bad breath.

It is important to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Unfortunately all day snacks and binging have replaced the concept of “three square meals a day.”

When indiscriminate snacking takes place oral hygiene goes out the window. If doubt that, begin a diary and document every single instance throughout the day when you place food or beverages in your mouth. Weight loss programs teach their users to do this and it can be an eye-opening experience. Some of our habits are so ingrained that we don’t even realize what we are doing.

Someone brings a home made coffee cake to the office and it’s very easy to unconsciously grab “just a little sliver” back to your desk along with your. . .what?. . third or fourth cup of java of course.

You may be sitting in the grandstands at a little league ballgame when your partner waves the bag of popcorn under your nose. Well, it’s just a few kernels of popcorn, right?

Now, do you immediately run to the ladies room at the office and brush your teeth? Do you leap off the bleachers and sprint to the “facilities” and floss? Of course not, that would be ridiculous, right? If we all did that, there wouldn’t be a problem with dental disease or bad breath.

All the snacking that we do throughout the day not only contributes to bad breath but snack food is usually very high in carbohydrates and produces excessive amounts of sugar that cause tooth decay and promote bad breath. Harmful acids contained in soda pop attack the enamel on the teeth, yet we sip on sodas all day long.

And, if you thought that just sodas are the culprit, think again. A recent study claims that all those popular sports drinks we buy may not be such a good idea after all. They may re-hydrate the body, but they can cause irreversible damage to the dental enamel.

The study reports that fitness water, sports drinks, energy drinks and other non-cola beverages increase the risk of damage by anywhere from 3 to 11 times!

It should be mentioned that the findings are indicative of long term use. However, it appears that these drinks may not necessarily beneficial as a substitute for plain old-fashioned fresh water!

What about all those smelly foods we love?

You’ve heard the term, “you are what you eat” and it certainly applies when it comes to bad breath. Certain foods can give you bad breath.

Foods like garlic, onions, peppers and more all have a role in creating bad breath. When the food you eat is released into the bloodstream, the lungs will expel the odor.

While garlic and onions seem to top the list of bad breath offenders, there are other foods that are just as likely to produce bad breath. A few of these are:

Meats that are spicy like pepperoni, salami and pastrami

Cheese, especially soft cheeses

Fish

Dairy foods

Seafood

Eggs

Practically every food that is high in protein is also a harbinger of bad breath. In fact practically one third of our diet is comprised of high protein foods.

This can be especially distressing if you are on a “high protein” diet. The obvious result is that when on a diet such as this bad breath will become significantly more annoying.

Short of totally eliminating protein from our diet (not recommended) what else can we do? At the risk of sounding redundant let’s review some of our earlier discussion.

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration certainly won’t help to improve the situation.

As difficult as it may be, clean your teeth and tongue thoroughly each time you eat anything that is high in protein.

Try and adjust your diet to contain less high protein foods and more high fiber foods. Foods high in fiber naturally produce some of those important enzymes we previously discussed.

Fiber will help fight constipation. Homeopathic healers report that regular bowel movements help to rid the body of toxins that contribute to bad breath.

Not only will changing to a higher fiber diet help your bad breath, it will also improve the overall health of your digestive system.

Instead of snacking on junk food, try chewing on fresh fruits and vegetables, especially the crunchy foods. Apples, pears, celery and carrots are good suggestions. They will aid in enzyme production and the natural chewing of the crunchy foods will stimulate the gums.

Consider adding that yogurt we mentioned as a permanent part of your daily food intake. Again, it will promote the production of the live bacteria you need.

Stimulate the flow of saliva to keep the mouth moist. Remember to avoid ineffectual commercial mouthwashes. Chewing on a clove or adding a drop of cinnamon or peppermint oil on your tongue will be much more productive.

If you are having post-nasal drip, use an over the counter medication to reduce the flow of the noxious drainage of the draining mucous.

There are numerous over the counter treatments for bad breath, the majority of which we have already reported to be ineffectual.

One type of product does appear to bear some scrutiny, however. Advertised as a “new innovation” in mouthwashes they are called Chlorine Dioxide Mouthwashes.

They claim to totally eliminate bad breath by attacking the sulfur compounds that cause bad breath rather than masking them as conventional mouthwashes do.

They make a provocative case however, when you understand that chlorine dioxide has been used in municipal water supplies for decades. Use your own judgment, but it might not hurt to give one a try.

Further research shows another fairly recent medical treatment for periodontal disease that may present some hope for remedying bad breath by treating the periodontal condition.

Some Final Thoughts

In our quest for learning how to get rid of bad breath, it does appear as though we have discussed a great deal about overall health care and we have. But isn’t that the way it should be?

Mother Nature has a way of teaching us just how delicate the balance can be between living a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle. Although it is not a laughing matter, one can’t help but recall the humorous comment made by someone that, “be true to your teeth or they will be false to you.” It certainly does apply.

Before we part company, if there were one single thing you can do to help prevent bad breath, it is to simply rinse out your mouth with fresh water after eating whether it is after snacking or between meals.

In most cases that is easy to do and can go a long way toward helping the bad breath problem as well as your overall dental health. Rinsing your mouth won’t eliminate all the bacteria producing particles, but it will get rid of some. Try it and make it a habit.

Resources

Academy of General Dentistry
211 East Chicago Ave., Ste 900
Chicago, IL 60611-1999
Ph: 888.AGD.DENT (888.243.3368)

American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
312-440-2500

National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892-2190
Phone: 301-496-4261

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Oral Health, MS F-10
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
1-888-232-2306

American Academy of Periodontology
737 N. Michigan Ave.
Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60611
1-800-356-7736 (to find a periodontist in a particular region)