| Bad Breath (Halitosis) |
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One of the most distressing things about bad breath is the inability of the person who has it to detect its presence. Ask your dentist, a friend or family member, or simply lick the back of your hand, wait a few minutes and smell the results. Below are listed 11 causes and what can be done to prevent each one:
Blowing air over something that doesn't smell good is bound to produce a malodour. Having your hygienist remove the tartar and bacteria from under the gums can control the infected gum tissue. Once this is done she can irrigate with solutions that help sanitize the bacteria and prohibit bacterial growth. Following this, you can rinse, irrigate or gargle with 2 to 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil concentrate in 4 oz of water. This can be done daily for no more than a week at a time. On the alternate week, 15 ml of Chlorhexidine rinse (PERIDEX® or ORACLEANSE) can be used. A 3 % solution of hydrogen peroxide (mixed in half with water) can be substituted no more than 3 times per week. Listerine rinse can be used occasionally. To prevent the bacteria from building up resistance, it is best to alternate the antibacterial solutions. By controlling the bacterial proliferation, you will have healthier gums; however, be cautious with the Peroxide and Listerine, as overuse can increase the odour problem. There are more germs living in the film on teeth than you can imagine. Daily brushing with a soft toothbrush in a manner that will remove all of the plaque will prevent some mouth odour. VIADENT™ mouthrinse will neutralize the emission of sulfur from the food debris. Be sure that you choose a mouthwash without alcohol in it. Alcohol tends to dry out the oral mucosa and compound the problem. Daily flossing will remove the plaque from between the teeth, thus preventing cavities as well as controlling mouth odour. By using fluoridated toothpaste, you will have a minty taste as the well as the positive effects of the fluoride. The raised papillae on the tongue are great places for plaque to hide and putrefy. Give it a good scrub while brushing your teeth. Very gently run the toothbrush or a bit of cotton gauze over the folds of mucosa on the inside of your cheeks. Skipping meals can create a foul oral smell because it decreases the production of saliva needed to flush the teeth. Stress can lead to a dry mouth, which is double trouble when coupled with the increases in stomach acid that stress can induce. With that in mind, you may want to choose a piece of cheese and a non-alcoholic beverage at your next social outing. Sugarless chewing gum and mints can step up saliva flow as well as to leave a fresh mint taste. The enzymes in fresh fruit and vegetables serve to combat mouth odour as well as appease your appetite. Sorry, but raw onions, garlic and spicy meats can x-rate the mouth for as long as 72 hours. These foods boast odiferous compounds that actually enter the bloodstream when digested, producing odour as they eventually leave through the skin and lungs. One study showed that a patient would exude garlic breath as a result of the garlic buds being rubbed into the soles of the feet! Parsley tablets, chlorenella tablets and spirulina tablets will combat the effects of bodily odour, thus having a positive effect on the breath. Aloe vera based drinks as well as liquid cholorophyll also have purifying effects on breath. A high protein diet causes a change in the chemical balance of your saliva, thus increasing the sulfur emissions from your mouth. Be sure that your diet is balanced and includes lots of fresh vegetables. A stuffy nose, chronic sinusitis, post-nasal drip, tonsillitis and allergies can sour breath, especially if obstructed nasal passages lead to breathing through the mouth, thus drying it out. Seeing your medical doctor may be the best remedy for this. This should not be ignored, especially in children, as a constricted upper airway can promote orthodontic problems for the future. Some constricted airways are as a result of milk allergy. If you suspect this, eliminate milk products from the diet for 10 days and see if you notice a difference. Poor digestion can taint the breath. The excess stomach acid can cause the saliva to be more acidic, thus increasing the risk for cavities. If you chronically awaken with morning breath, try to make your evening meal lighter and do not eat after 7:00 PM. This will give your body time to digest before you sleep. Try not to eat on the run - allow yourself the time to eat slowly and unwind. Hormonal changes associated with these events can affect the breath, possibly by stimulating the growth of micro-organisms that inflame the gums, thus entrapping bacteria between the teeth and gums. Pay special attention to your plaque removal techniques. Ulcer medication CIMETIDINE (TAGAMET®) and heart medication ISODRYL are known breath saboteurs. Antihistamines, decongestants and diuretics can also cause bad breath by making the mouth dry. Be sure to drink your eight 8 oz glasses of water daily. Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash seem to be effective against dry mouth as well as the saliva substitutes MOI-STIR® and ZERO-LUBE®. Because it coats the teeth, sours the mouth, interrupts digestion, and builds up toxins in your lungs and body, smoking is a real offender. The chemicals from the cigarette constrict the blood vessels, alter the flow of saliva and have a toxic effect on the body. Again, aloe vera products, parsley, chlorenella, spirulina and liquid chlorophyll can be helpful in purifying the build-up of toxins in the body. Mouthwash may mask bad breath temporarily, but in the long run it can actually worsen the problem by drying out and irritating the oral tissues, leading to the very sort of inflammation you do not want. Be sure to choose a rinse that does not have an alcohol base. If it's just a quick perfume job you want, try sugarless gum or mix a few drops of peppermint oil in some water as a rinse. The natural product REFRESH RINSE is available at your health food store. OXYFRESH TOOTHPASTE & MOUTHRINSE is a product available from your dentist. The chloro-dioxide base in OXYFRESH binds with the sulfur molecules that cause the odour, thus eliminating the malodour. OXYFRESH is safe for daily use. |
