Did you know that the bacteria that causes bad breath can be killed off by a substance from the bark of a magnolia tree? This is the latest research just out and it was conducted bya famous company which makes mints. Obviously looking to make a killing with a new mint! They found that when this substance was used in a mint, it killed off 60% of the bacteria which cause bad breath,compared with a normal mint which killed off a mere 4%!
If you suffer from bad breath, you are not alone. Experts now say that this is a major social and psychological problem which affects the majority of the population, Yes, it is that bad ! But babies, cats and dogs also suffer from the same problem.
Mnay people do not know that they have bad breath or have never bothered to find out! The best way of all is to ask your doctor or dentist to tell you. However, there are other methods, such as licking your wrist and then the saliva dry for a minute or two. By smelling the dried area, you can determine if you have bad breath or not. Some people recommend scraping the back of the tongue with a plastic spoon and then smelling that.
What causes bad breath? The bacteria which will live in the oral cavity called the mouth, will create rather unpleasant gases and these will live quite happily on the teeth, gums and especially the tongue (where up to 90% of the bacteria take up residence!) Cigarette smokers are at major risk but also people who have to put up with passive smoking. Foods which are fatty and spicy are also major culprits. Garlic and onions have not exactly been known to create sweet smelling breath. A short term solution here is a sprig of parsley to chew plus a good brushing , maybe followed by a mouthwash.
Most people think that mouthwashes are the solution but in fact this is a only a very short terrm solution and does not address the real cause of the problem. Other people go to the other extreme and become obsessive or manic about their breath and may well have to have counselling. Howeevr the real cause in many cases, apart from bad oral hygiene, are medical conditions such as gum disease, dry mouth, bronchitis, sinusitis, diabetes and liver and kidney disease.
Mouthwashes containing essential oils will help to keep the mouth healthy although it is not the real long term solution in many cases. However the major causes of bad breath is simply poor oral hygine which allows the bacteria to get a hold and causes the bad smell. Other effective mouthwashes are those containing zinc and antibacterial agents such as chloride dioxide. Diet can play a role too in that fresh fruits like apples and citrus fruit can keep th mouth healthy and clean. Plenty of water is a good idea as well as that can prevent a dry mouth.
Nux vomica and Kali phosphoricum are homeopathic remedies which can also be tried. But the best way to treat bad breath is the cause. There may be a problem with bleeding gums and in that case a dentist should be consulted. Sometimes, medication can be a contributory cause and a change may be recommended. At the end of the day most bad breath problems can be treated simply by good oral hygiene and medical care.
We may well have to wait a while for the magnolia bark mints to clean up bad breath. In the meantime, we may well want to find a fast long term solution. The site below contains a lot of useful information and is worth studying.
Acute bad breath or halitosis is a very common problem caused by a wide range of things: in particular dry mouth, stress, hunger, eating strongly flavored foods like garlic and onions, smoking, and poor oral hygiene. Morning breath is typical of passing or transient bad breath. However, chronic, ongoing bad breath is a far more serious problem which affects up to a quarter of the population in one way or another, and can have a dire effect on a person's personal, social, and business relationships if not dealt with properly.
Bad breath is due to large colonies of oral bacteria, and keeping these in check requires committed effort and treatment. At present, halitosis is not fully understood or even seen as totally curable by many experts, making reliable and effective treatment very hard to come by.
Most treatments are asymptotic and limited to the use of mouth and breath fresheners. Although many breath clinics have sprung up the world over, they mostly can't claim huge success in curing halitosis.
That said, a small number of them use tried and tested methods of microbiological examination to identify the different kinds of odor-causing bacteria. These culprits are then controlled by treatments tailored to the patients concerned.
Though the reasons for halitosis are not fully understood, it is known that most bad odors are caused by food debris trapped in the mouth. Incredibly, up to 400 different types of bacteria are found in the average mouth! Problems occur when a few dozen of these flourish in large numbers or mutate and grow en masse.
Many types of these bacteria are commonly found on the back of the tongue, as this gives them protection from normal mouth activity. The rough edges of the tongue, with all its convenient hiding-places, are usually home to millions of these harmful bacteria, which create toxins by digesting debris, dead cells, and other matter. It is these toxins that are responsible for bad breath odors. The anaerobic respiration of these bacteria leads to build-up of compounds comprising sulfides and ammonia. These then mingle with the breath to form a highly unpleasant aerosol.
Other established causes of chronic bad breath are periodontitis or gum disease, diabetes (characteristic acetone smell), kidney failure (fishy odor), liver problems, tonsilloliths, sinusitis or respiratory infections, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)/digestive disorders, dieting/fasting-related odors, and a wide range of prescription drugs.
It has to be said though that most bad breath problems begin, as you might expect, in the mouth, with the tongue being a common site for the origin of halitosis problems. However, the teeth can be a magnet for plaque-containing bacteria, and lack of careful or regular brushing can result in build-ups of bacteria which cause bad breath.
Those suffering from periodontitis or gum disease often have bad breath because of bacteria accumulations in areas which are not easily or thoroughly cleaned, such as deep fissures surrounding teeth. Fortunately the treatment for those with halitosis of mouth origin can be more effective than that from other causes.
Both Robert William Locke & Jay George 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.
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Jay George has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mental Health, Menopause and Bad Breath. Jay George is a writer/publisher on health matters. "No More Bad Breath and Gum Disease: How I Banished My Bad Breath and Gum Disease For Life" shows how to cure bad breath instantly and reverse gum disease in just a week! #1 Bestseller has helped 1000s w. Jay George's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.