Most people suffer from bad breath at some time in their lives. For something so commonplace, bad breath (or halitosis) isn't fully understood by the medical community.
Though the reasons for bad breath odor are not completely understood, most unpleasant odors are caused by food debris trapped in the mouth. It is really amazing to find as many as 400 different types of bacteria in an average mouth!
Trouble can occur when several dozen of these bacteria are allowed to flourish. Huge numbers can soon build up, or they may become genetically mutated before they reproduce in a large number.
Many species of these bacteria are usually found on the back of the tongue, where they find protection from normal mouth activity. The rough edges of our tongue usually harbor millions of bacteria, which create toxins by digesting debris, dead cells, and other residues. These toxins are harmful because they create a bad odor in the breath.
The chemical reactions ? technically called anaerobic respiration -of these bacteria will accumulate residual compounds containing smelly sulfides and ammonia. These undesirable compounds often further mix with the breath to form an aerosol (spray of fine particles) further spreading the bad odor.
Other causes of chronic bad breath may be periodontitis (gum disease), diabetes, kidney failure, sinusitis, tonsilloliths, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and a wide variety of prescription drugs.
But, as you may expect, the majority of bad breath problems begin in the mouth. As we've seen, bad breath originating in the mouth can be traced to a sulfur compound produced by bacteria. Dead and dying bacterial cells release this sulfur compound, which gives the breath a bad odor.
In addition, bacterial plaque, debris and food waste accumulate on the back of the tongue. Large amounts of sulfur compounds can be produced in this area, making it a frequent site of origin for bad breath.
Teeth attract bacteria by containing plaque and debris. If not cleaned regularly and thoroughly, this can result in large accumulations of bacteria which result in bad breath.
People who have Periodontitis disease often experience bad breath because of bacteria accumulating in areas that are not cleaned easily, such as deep fissures around teeth.
If your bad breath is originating in your mouth, you will be glad to know that very effective treatment is available.
You can use commercially available breath fresheners or mouth washes for temporary relief from bad breath. However, most of them are just that and act by masking the smell producing layers of tongue, once the effect wears off, the bad breath will resurface with renewed vigor.
Using anti-bacterial mouth rinses may provide you better results in controlling bad breath. Always avoid alcohol containing mouth rinses as alcohol is a drying agent and will worsen the problem sooner or later.
Acute bad breath may be temporarily controlled by using a hydrogen peroxide rinse in your mouth. Hydrogen peroxide at a minute concentration of 1.5% can be taken as an oral antiseptic by gargling 10 ml, for a few minutes.
Never forget to brush your teeth after meals and a regular flossing at least once in a day will remove putrefying food debris from between the teeth, especially at the gum line and rear of the tongue.
Gently cleaning the tongue surface twice daily with a tongue brush, tongue scraper or tongue cleaner will help you keep your tongue and teeth in good shape and health.
Alternatively, you can also use an inverted teaspoon to scrap the surface of your tongue. Tooth brush will not work well in scraping the back of your tongue as the bristles will not reach the back parts of your tongue. Be careful to avoid scraping the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.
Since a dry mouth can increase bacterial buildup and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Some gums, toothpastes, sprays, and gels which combat dry mouth for several hours have recently been marketed over the counter.
Maintain water levels in the body by drinking several glasses of water a day. Adding lemon juice to your water is refreshing and also beneficial. Parsley is a natural breath freshener when chewed slowly, and is easy to grow at home.
Some studies have shown eating yoghurt, drinking green tea, or chewing cinnamon or sugarless cinnamon gum can also reduce bad breath.
Bad breath, or halitosis in medical terminology, is a very common problem. Though many people affected by it may not be aware that they suffer from bad breath, and it is important that they notice that they have a problem. This is because bad breath is an "embarrassing" problem and sooner or later, people will turn away from you rather than face rotten breath. More than the problem itself is the worry that you may have this issue, without having someone close to you to bring your attention to it. It is comparatively easy to keep things under control providing you have a basic understanding of the causes of bad breath.
The causes of bad breath
If you are wondering what causes bad breath, here are some common culprits:
1.Food-related causes: Foods that have strong odors – e.g., onion, garlic – can cause temporary bad breath. Sometimes even brushing and flossing adequately are not enough in getting rid of the odors as they are generally released into the blood stream after digestion. One quick-fix solution would be to avoid them, especially at social gatherings, or to have on hand an instant mouth freshener containing mint, cardmamom, and cloves to spray into you mouth immediately after the meal. 2.Mouth bacteria: Food particles that get stuck between the teeth after meals are a feasting ground for odor-causign bacteria to grow on. The solution is maintaining a structured and disciplined oral hygiene schedule that should include cleaning of the tongue, flossing and brushing your teeth regularly on a daily basis. 3.Medical causes:Certain medical conditions – like diabetis and ketosis – can also be a cause of bad breath. So it is imperative that you consult your dentist and if required, your physician if you suspect a medical condition to be the cause.
Eliminating What Causes Bad Breath
Because bad breath can be the result of various factors, one of the fastest ways to find the cause of bad breath would be to consult a dentist. Blood tests can also spring a surprise and lay bare the real cause of your bad breath. You must remember that bad breath could be a symptom of something more serious and therefore getting a medical opinion is always a good idea. However, you must take adequate precautions to ward off bad breath – running to the dentis or doctor every time that you have a problem is probably not a good idea, you need to ensure that your body is fit and fine and is well-protected against various conditions, including bad breath.
Normally, good habits and a structured regimen would be adequate actions to take to combat bad breath. So, stay away from tobacco and too much meat, restrict your intake of foods that create strong odours such as onions and garlic, and regularly brush and floss your teeth. This may sound like your grandma talking, but it is sound advice.
There are various OTC (over-the-counter) treatments available for bad breath. Sadly thouhg, most of them are completely ineffectual and may even add to your problem. There is one class of products in the market though – Chlorine Dioxide Mouthwashes – that are being touted as an innovation, which claims to completely be able to eliminate bad breath. These mouthwashes claim to kill bad breath by attacking the sulfur compounds that cause bad breath, rather than masking these compounds as conventional mouthwashes do.
For all we know, these claims may be exaggerated because chlorine dioxide has been used for years in municipal water supply systems. Use your own judgment when buying one of these products, but there is probably no harm in giving it a try at least.
Both David Drinkall & Joan Masterson 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.
David Drinkall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bad Breath, Asthma. David has had a life-long interest in health issues, and is owner of Cure Your Bad Breath. Visit for information and advice, plus the c. David Drinkall's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.
Joan Masterson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hoodia, Bad Breath and Hoodia. Visit us for more information on . Joan Masterson's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.