I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials. There are many of them by the Wriggly Gum Company in which a young woman, without warning, sprays the mouth of someone in an attempt to clean it. They are commercials geared to make the audience laugh; unfortunately, bad bread is no laughing matter.
For most people, bad breath is an embarrassing problem. Some people avoid talking directly at someone, while others hold their hand in front of their mouth. Some people gargle incessantly, brush their teeth many times a day, chew gum, or continuously eat mints. There are all kinds of tricks, but most of those are just aids – not solutions.
The clinical name for bad breath is halitosis. Halitosis combines the Latin “halitus,” meaning “breath,” with the Greek suffix “osis,” often used to describe a medical condition like “cirrhosis of the liver.”
Halitosis can interfere with communication, relationships, and intimacy, to name a few things, and sometimes, not even friends will tell you if you have bad breath because they don’t want to offend you.
Halitosis can be caused by a variety of reasons. The foods you eat, dry mouth, tobacco products, medications, even diseases such as diabetes, GERD, lactose intolerance, and gum disease can contribute to bad breath. Maintaining proper oral health can help reduce halitosis, but in some cases, a doctor is to diagnosis the problem.
When bad breath starts in the mouth, intensity can change during the day due to eating certain foods (i.e. garlic, onions, cheeses, some meats, and alcohol).
Since our mouths are inactive and less exposed to oxygen during the night, the odor can be worse in the morning, which is where the term “morning breath” originated.
Other causes for bad breath:
Diet
If not brushed or flossed thoroughly, food particles remain in the mouth. These decay and grow bacteria, which can cause foul odors.
Some foods with strong odors are absorbed into the bloodstream and then transferred to the lungs. This can cause a noticeable odor. These foods can also cause stomach upsets and belching. Also, some supplements such as fish oil capsules and garlic capsules can cause bad breath.
Low carbohydrate diets can also cause “ketone breath.” Low-carb diets cause the body to burn fat as its energy source. The end product of this energy is ketones, which cause a fruity acetone-like odor on the breath when exhaled.
Dry mouth or xerostomia
Bad breath can also be caused by decreased flow of saliva, which is a vital part of the digestive process. Dry mouth can also be caused by medications, or salivary gland problems.
Medical disorders
• Gum (periodontal) infection
• Throat infections: pharyngitis, tonsillitis, strep
• Infections in the respiratory tract
• Chronic sinusitis and post-nasal drip
• Bronchitis
• Diabetes
• Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
• Liver or kidney disease
• Lactose intolerance
• Dentures or dental appliances
• Dentures and dental appliances can create bad breath, usually because of improper cleaning or mouth ulcers.
Remedies
If you’re unable to detect the reason for your bad breath, talk with your doctor to make sure there are no underlying health issues. In the meantime, here are some helpful tips for curbing the issue:
Tongue cleaning – Our tongues harbor and produce harmful bacteria; however, most of us neglect it when brushing. The best way to clean your tongue is to take a regular soft bristle toothbrush and make a few gentle strokes down the tongue from back to front once a day. You can also buy a tongue scraper for more effective cleaning. Check with your dentist for the best option based on your needs.
Sugar-free breath fresheners – Bacteria in your mouth ferments sugar, which leads to bad breath. So stick with sugar-free mints and gum.
Grab some H2O – Saliva contains protective enzymes that help to kill bad bacteria, so a dry mouth can cause smelly conditions. Staying hydrated will help stimulate the salivary glands and keep your mouth properly moisturized.
Sip a cup of tea – Sipping on a cup of hot lemon zinger, or a tall, cold iced tea freshens your breath. According to current studies, tea zaps halitosis before it even starts. Research from the University of Illinois at Chicago shows that polyphenols, chemical components found in all teas, help prevent the growth of the bacteria as well as bacteria’s production of foul-smelling compounds.
Spice is nice – Sweet, spicy cardamom, often used in Indian cooking and desserts, contains antibacterial properties, and is a proven a natural breath freshener. Cardamom is high in cineole, a powerful antiseptic that kills bacteria. Chew on a few cardamom seeds instead of mints or gum. Fennel seeds have also been proven to work, although they aren’t as tasty, unless you like licorice.
Some information from: womenshealth.org, webmd.com, badbreathhalitosiscures.com.