Bad breath is something common to everyone at one point or another in their life, even those who brush and floss religiously. We all know that those who eat garlic will smell like it afterwards, but other times the realization that our breath is offensive comes on us unawares. So what causes it, and how can you avoid it?
The scientific name, "halitosis", meaning "a condition of the breath" was coined by the Listerine company, and refers to any unpleasant odors you might exhale from your mouth.
The odors are caused by anaerobic sulfur-producing bacteria in the mouth. Because anaerobic bacteria live without air (indeed, they're poisoned by oxygen), they generally live just under the surface of the tongue and throat. They help us to break down the proteins in certain foods and clear our mouths of diseased tissue, and there's no way to eliminate them from our mouths.
However, certain conditions put the bacteria into overdrive, and they end up releasing "volatile sulfur compounds" which have a very disagreeable odor. The only way to treat bad breath is to stop the bacteria from producing VSCs, or by chemically altering them into something that doesn't smell so bad.
Breath mints, breath sprays and chewing gum only mask the odor with something more pungent; unfortunately they also generally provide the bacteria with more sugars and proteins to fuel rapid growth and VSC production.
Dry mouth eliminates oxygen-carrying saliva, helping the bacteria to thrive. Post-nasal drip coats them with a protein-rich food source. Of course, high-protein foods, sugars and alcohols provide them with a growth medium, but high-acid foods like coffee also promote reproduction. Milk and dairy products will not be digested if you are lactose-intolerant, and so can also provide a long-lasting food source for the bacteria.
One of the few treatments that has been shown to work over the long term are those containing the active ingredient Oxyd-VIII, invented by Dr. Harold Katz and used in TheraBreath products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, sprays, gums and mints. This substance adds oxygen to the mouth environment, which converts the foul-smelling sulfide and mercaptan compounds into sulfate, which have no odor or taste.
To find out more about the causes and treatments for bad breath, visit http://www.badbreath-halitosis.info
Chronic bad breath is no laughing matter. If you have it you've possibly experienced embarrassment because of it and this is so unnecessary. Chronic bad breath is usually the consequence of physiological problems more than poor oral hygiene. Anyone with chronic bad breath has tried all the usual measures to fix the problem. Chronic bad breath can affect your life personally as well as professionally.Do you ever think pepoe might be talking about you behind your back?
Perhaps you question yourself and aren't exactly certain you have chronic bad breath.Consider the following experiences to see if you have chronic bad breath.If in doubt, do something about it anyway, because you can't go wrong.
I Have a Constant Bad Taste in My Mouth
Do you have a constant bad taste in your mouth? No matter how many times you brush or floss your teeth, you just can't get rid of the bad taste in your mouth .sometimes, even though we do our best, food particles remain in the mouth and break down thanks to the bacteria that live there.Good oral hygiene often addresses this but sometimes the bad taste remains.
Mint, Anyone?
Picture this. You've just begun a conversation with someone and the next thing you know they're searching in their pocket or purse for something and suddenly they produce a mint and ask you if you want one. Friends may not know how to tell you that you have bad breath so they do the next best thing by offering you a breath freshening agent. Hopefully, you get the clue and accept it making sure to take care of your chronic bad breath as soon as you can.
Breath fresheners only have a temporary effect and can often mask the odor for a brief period. Further action is required to fix chronic bad breath.
Sorry, didn't mean to get in your space.
When you're in conversation with others do they all stand close to you or do you find them backing up and using any number of excuses for doing so?
If this happens often you may need to seriously consider the effect your bad breath may be having on others.If you think friends are avoiding you, consider it might be because of chronic bad breath.
Ugh! I thought my tongue was supposed to be pink!
Look in the mirror and check out your tongue. Is it pink or does it have a nasty looking yellow or white coat? In recent years dentists have suggested that as part of our oral hygiene regime, we brush our tongues as well. Food can get trapped in the grooves in the tongue, bacteria steps in and whoa....stand back 'cause your breath is three alarm awful!
It's not that bad.
don't be upset if you've figured out you have chronic bad breath. you can do something about it and the end of the world is not coming. Go to your dentist and work out a plan that will effectively eliminate your chronic bad breath.
Both Jim Mcdonald & Deb Marsden are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jim Mcdonald has sinced written about articles on various topics from Constipation Causes, Adwords and Tanning. Written by Jim McDonald, a contributing writer for, an informative website about. Jim Mcdonald's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Deb Marsden has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bad Breath, Supplements and Bad Breath. Stop your bad breath today and get your confidence back. Your friends and family will love you for it.No more talking behind your back!