Copyright 2006 David DrinkallMost 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.
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David has had a life-long interest in health issues, and is
owner of Cure Your Bad Breath. Visit
http://www.halitosisonline.com for information and advice,
plus the complete text of the eBook Cure Your Bad Breath,
free!
