bad breath relief : Bacteria - The Cause of Chronic Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath is constant long standing bad breath. Although a little harder to treat, it can be treated nevertheless. The problem starts with bacteria. Did you know that over 170 different types of bacteria live in our mouths?

These bacteria feed on bits of food left on our teeth after meals. Feasting on these "leftovers", bacteria produce sulfur compounds (Volatile Sulfur Compounds -VSCs) which once again give breath its foul smell.

Many of these bacteria are anaerobic meaning that they can not live in the presence of oxygen. How do they live in the mouth which is exposed to oxygen every time we breathe? These bacteria hide in places where oxygen can not reach - under plaque and food debris, in the spaces between the teeth and gums, and in the deep crevices of the tongue.

This is why proper dental care is important in eliminating bad breath. Brushing and flossing:

Remove bacteria from the mouth.
Remove the layer of plaque, food debris, and dead cells which protect bacteria from oxygen.
Remove the left-over microscopic food particles which bacteria use to create the odorous sulfur particles.

Copyright 1998, 1999 - Market Access

bad breath relief : The Cause of Temporary Bad Breath

We have all probably experienced bad breath caused by eating certain foods. We eat a meal and then suffer with embarrassing bad breath later. The culprits are sulfur compounds found in certain foods like garlic and cabbage. These sulfur compounds cause breathe to smell bad.

When we eat, sulfur compounds from foods are absorbed by our digestive systems. Contrary to popular belief, sulfur compounds do not cause bad breath as a result of working their way back up into the mouth from the stomach.

Rather, the sulfur compounds move from the digestive system into the bloodstream where they are carried to the lungs. Here the lungs expel the sulfur compounds from the body by way of the air that we exhale ! Amazingly, many of these sulfur compounds are also excreted in sweat from the skin and in urine for hours to even days after the food containing them is eaten.

How can you get rid of this type of bad breath ? One option is to avoid the foods that cause bad breath such as cabbage and onions. Alternatively, you can use one of several new products on the market which attack and neutralize the sulfur compounds while they are in the digestive system or in the bloodstream.

Copyright 1998, 1999 - Market Access

bad breath relief : Five common about bad breath

It's Easy For People to Tell if Their Own Breath Smells

Many believe they can smell their own breath odor by cupping their hands between their mouth and nose. Unfortunately, we can not tell if our breath smells because we become accustomed to our own odors.

Additionally, in many cases, we do not produce bad breath until we talk. This is because bad breath often originates near the back of the mouth and is propelled forward and out of the mouth only when we speak.

How can we tell if our breath smells ? One of the best ways is to have a trusted friend or loved one smell it for you. If you don't want to do this, wipe near the middle of your tongue with a cotton ball or gauze pad. Then smell the cotton ball or gauze pad for odor.

A more accurate assessment of bad breath can be performed by a dentist using a device called a halimeter. The patient blows into a straw like tube attached to the halimeter and the machine measures the amount of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in the breath. These volatile sulfur compounds are what give breath its bad smell.

Bad Breath Comes From the Stomach
A common misperception is that bad breath arises from the stomach. While an extremely small percentage of bad breath problems may be due to stomach and digestive problems, the overwhelming majority of bad breath arises from the back of the mouth. Here bacteria feed on mucus and food particles creating odorous sulfur compounds.

Good Dental Hygiene (Tooth Brushing and Flossing) Will Always Eliminate Bad Breath

Good dental hygiene (brushing and flossing) helps eliminate bad breath. Unfortunately, most people do not properly brush their teeth.

It takes nearly three minutes to completely brush all tooth surfaces yet most people spend only 30 to 45 seconds brushing their teeth. Consequently, they consistently miss tooth surfaces where bacteria are allowed to proliferate and create odorous volatile sulfur compounds.

People can brush and floss properly, however, and still be unsuccessful at eliminating bad breath. The problem is that odor causing bacteria often hide deep within the crevices of the tongue under a protective layer of mucus and proteins. Cleaning the tongue with a tongue cleaner (also called a tongue scraper) can remove this layer of mucus and proteins exposing bacteria and freshening breath.

Mouthwashes Are Effective in Treating Bad Breath
People believe mouthwashes can treat bad breath. Unfortunately, most conventional mouthwashes only temporarily mask bad breath and are relatively useless at treating bad breath.

In fact, most conventional mouthwashes can actually contribute to bad breath formation. This is because mouthwashes contain a high percentage of alcohol which tends to dry out the mouth. Bacteria responsible for creating bad breath grow much better in drier mouths.

A new breed of mouthwashes, however, are very effective in treating bad breath. These mouthwashes contain chlorine dioxide which actually attacks the volatile sulfur compounds on the molecular level.

To Prevent Bad Breath We Should Focus on the Foods We Eat

It is true that temporary bad breath comes from the foods we eat. Many foods like onions and cabbage contain high amounts of sulfur compounds. When these foods are digested the sulfur compounds are absorbed into the blood stream and carried to the lungs. Here the sulfur compounds are exhaled as we breathe causing our breath to smell.

Chronic bad breath , however, is not caused by the foods we eat. Instead, chronic bad breath results when bacteria in the mouth break down left over food particles creating odorous sulfur particles. The primary goal in this case is not a change in diet but a reduction in the number of odor causing bacteria in the mouth. This can be done with proper brushing, flossing, and cleaning of the tongue with a tongue cleaner (tongue scraper).

Copyright 1998, 1999 - Market Access

bad breath relief : The Foods We Eat

The Foods We Eat - The Cause of Temporary Bad Breath

Bad Breath Cure
Complete system provides absolutely everything you need for fresh breath.


Advanced formula toothpaste, mouthwash, and breath spray fight bad breath at the source, for incredibly clean, fresh breath.

We have all probably experienced bad breath caused by eating certain foods. We eat a meal and then suffer with embarrassing bad breath later. The culprits are sulfur compounds found in certain foods like garlic and cabbage. These sulfur compounds cause breathe to smell bad.

When we eat, sulfur compounds from foods are absorbed by our digestive systems. Contrary to popular belief, sulfur compounds do not cause bad breath as a result of working their way back up into the mouth from the stomach.

Rather, the sulfur compounds move from the digestive system into the bloodstream where they are carried to the lungs. Here the lungs expel the sulfur compounds from the body by way of the air that we exhale ! Amazingly, many of these sulfur compounds are also excreted in sweat from the skin and in urine for hours to even days after the food containing them is eaten.

How can you get rid of this type of bad breath ? One option is to avoid the foods that cause bad breath such as cabbage and onions. Alternatively, you can use one of several new products on the market which attack and neutralize the sulfur compounds while they are in the digestive system or in the bloodstream.

Bacteria - The Cause of Chronic Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath is constant long standing bad breath. Although a little harder to treat, it can be treated nevertheless. The problem starts with bacteria. Did you know that over 170 different types of bacteria live in our mouths?

These bacteria feed on bits of food left on our teeth after meals. Feasting on these "leftovers", bacteria produce sulfur compounds (Volatile Sulfur Compounds -VSCs) which once again give breath its foul smell.

Many of these bacteria are anaerobic meaning that they can not live in the presence of oxygen. How do they live in the mouth which is exposed to oxygen every time we breathe? These bacteria hide in places where oxygen can not reach - under plaque and food debris, in the spaces between the teeth and gums, and in the deep crevices of the tongue.

This is why proper dental care is important in eliminating bad breath. Brushing and flossing:

Remove bacteria from the mouth.
Remove the layer of plaque, food debris, and dead cells which protect bacteria from oxygen.
Remove the left-over microscopic food particles which bacteria use to create the odorous sulfur particles.

Copyright 1998, 1999 - Market Access

bad breath relief : Use Chlorine Dioxide Mouthwashes

Mouthwashes containing chlorine dioxide are the latest advance against bad breath. Conventional mouthwashes at best only temporarily mask bad breath odor. At worst, conventional mouthwashes can make the situation worse by drying out the mouth making it more hospitable to odor producing bacteria.

Chlorine dioxide has been used for years to sanitize water supplies. In these mouthwashes the chlorine dioxide directly attacks the volatile sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath.

Chew Sugarless Gum

If you can't brush after a meal or snack consider chewing sugarless gum. This chewing action helps cleanse the teeth and stimulates the flow of saliva. Saliva in turn further helps to cleanse the mouth and dissolves odorous volatile sulfur compounds. Make sure, however, to use gum which does not contain sugar .

Check for Signs of Gingivitis and Other Dental Problems

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums and ligaments which support the teeth. Periodontal disease creates new hiding spots in the gums for odor causing bacteria. Signs that you may have periodontal disease include:

Red or swollen gums
Loose teeth
Sensitive teeth
Pus coming from around the teeth
Pain on chewing
Tender gums
Bleeding gums.
When dentists treat periodontal disease they can eliminate the bad breath associated with it.

Get a Dental Check-Up at Least Once a Year

A yearly dental check-up is a good idea for all adults. This is because people often do not become away of dental problems until considerable damage has occurred. A dentist can recognize potentially damaging problems early. In addition, the dentist can diagnose other problems which cause bad breath including abscesses, periodontal disease, and impacted teeth.

Copyright 1998, 1999 - SaveYourSmile

bad breath relief : Eliminating bad breath

Brush and Floss Your Teeth Properly

Brushing and flossing are two of the most crucial elements for attacking bad breath. Bad breath is caused by bacteria which live on our teeth and gums. These bacteria feast on food particles left on our teeth creating volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). These sulfur compounds give breath its foul odor.

Brushing and flossing remove bacteria and the food bacteria feast on so that they can no longer create volatile sulfur compounds. Unfortunately, many people do not brush long enough to remove bacteria from their teeth. It takes 2-3 minutes to brush all tooth surfaces yet most people spend less than a minute brushing their teeth.

Worse yet, few people take the time to floss allowing odor producing bacteria to grow rampantly in the spaces between your teeth. Brushing without flossing is like washing only 70% of your body when you bathe - the other 30% remains dirty.

Clean Your Tongue

While brushing and flossing are crucial first steps, brushing and flossing do not always eliminate bad breath. This is because odor causing bacteria hide deep within the crevices of the tongue.

Ironically, many of these bacteria are anaerobic meaning they can not live in oxygen. How do these bacteria live in the mouth then ? They live safe from oxygen under a protective layer of mucous, food particles and proteins .

Cleaning your tongue with a tongue cleaner can remove this layer and much of the bacteria which resides on your tongue. Remember to clean near the back of the tongue where most of the bacteria resides but be careful not to gag yourself.

Drink Plenty Water

A dry mouth represents the ideal home for odor causing bacteria which flourish in this type of environment. Saliva normally keeps the mouth moist. Additionally, saliva helps wash away the food particles bacteria feed on and dissolves odorous volatile sulfur compounds. Actions which dry the mouth or reduce saliva flow can increase bad breath odor. These include:

The use of prescription medications including antihistamines and decongestants
Excessive talking
Exercising
Dieting
Drinking alcohol or using mouthwashes containing a high amount of alcohol
Smoking
By drinking water we stimulate saliva flow, wash away left-over food particles, and moisten the mouth making it less hospitable to odor causing bacteria.

Copyright 1998, 1999 - SaveYourSmile

bad breath relief : The-Counter Mouthwashes

The Truth About Over-The-Counter Mouthwashes

People often combat chronic bad breath using mouthwash as their weapon of choice. Ironically, most commercial mouthwashes are useless in eliminating chronic bad breath.

Recent studies have reported that mouthwashes only temporarily mask the odor of bad breath for as little as 10 minutes after brushing. In fact, because they contain alcohol, mouthwashes can actually make the situation worse by drying out the mouth creating a more hospitable environment for odor causing bacteria.

A new breed of mouthwashes containing chlorine dioxide, however, have proven very effective in combating bad breath. These mouthwashes do not mask bad breath odor like conventional mouth washes. Instead, the chlorine dioxide in these rinses directly attacks the volatile sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath .



Post-Nasal Drip

The nose can contribute to bad breath. Thick mucus discharge resulting from colds, allergies, medications, pregnancy or hormonal changes can collect on the back of the tongue. This layer of mucus provides a protective blanket under which bacteria hide. Bacteria can also break down proteins in the mucus to create volatile sulfur particles.

Sometimes mucus, bacteria, and debris condense onto the surface of the tonsils forming small hard balls of material. Known as tonsilloliths, these odorous balls of material are sometimes coughed up.

Using an over-the-counter nasal spray helps thin out post-nasal drip making it less useful to odor causing bacteria. Drinking water may also make mucus less viscous and therefore less likely to collect on the back of the tongue.



Periodontal Disease - A Treatable Cause of Bad Breath

If you try:

Staying away from certain foods that are known to cause bad breath,
Removing bacteria and food particles by brushing your teeth and flossing,
Removing bacteria from the tongue,
Making sure that your mouth does not become too dry (maintaining saliva flow),
and still have bad breath, you may want to see your dentist. This is because anaerobic bacteria in your mouth may have found special places to hide. Normally there is a small 1-3 mm space between your gums and teeth. This is known as the periodontal pocket or pocket for short. When pockets get to be 5mm or more they create deeper and more secluded hiding places for bacteria.
Your dentist should be able to detect these periodontal pockets during a routine gum exam. These areas are difficult to keep clean and may create a continuous supply of sulfur gases. The more areas that you have harboring these bacteria, the worse the breath.

What creates these widened pockets which harbor bacteria? These deep pockets often result from the breakdown of the gums caused by periodontal disease.

If you have persistent bad breath, you should definitely see your dentist to find out if you have periodontal disease. Other symptoms of periodontal disease include:

Swollen or bleeding gums
Tender gums
Loosening and shifting teeth
Sensitive teeth
Pain upon chewing
If you have periodontal disease, your dentist can help you treat it and consequently treat the bad breath associated with it.

Copyright 1998, 1999 - Market Access-----

bad breath relief : How Can You Tell If You Have Bad Breath ?

Contrary to popular belief, you can not tell by yourself whether or not you have bad breath. Many people try cupping their hands to their nose to smell exhaled air. Others may try licking and then smelling their wrist.

Unfortunately, these simply do not work. First, the body becomes accustomed to its own odors. As a result, it becomes hard for you to objectively distinguish whether or not your breath odor is foul or not. Secondly, much of the foul breath is created at the back of the mouth and is expelled outward only when we talk.

How then do you tell if your breath offends ? Many dentists measure breath odor using an instrument called a halimeter. The patient blows into a straw like tube connected to the halimeter and the machine detects the levels of volatile sulfur compounds in the breath. The more volatile sulfur compounds measured by the machine the worst the breath.

If you do not want to use a halimeter the next best way to detect bad breath is to simply ask a trusted friend to tell you whether or not your breath is offensive.



The Tongue - Safe Haven for Bacteria

A major advancement in the treatment of bad breath has been the finding that bacteria which causes bad breath can reside on the tongue - especially the back of the tongue ! In fact, as much as 50% of the bacteria within the mouth can be found here. For bacteria the tongue is a lush velvet carpet in which they can escape the wrath of the toothbrush and dental floss.

In many countries it has long been a practice to use a device called a tongue cleaner (also commonly called a tongue scraper) to gently clean the tongue but the importance of this procedure is just being felt here in the United States.

During each brushing you should remove bacteria from your tongue with one of several commercially available tongue cleaners. What you will scrape off with the tongue cleaner is a whitish layer of bacteria, plaque, and food debris. This simple procedure can greatly improve the condition of your breath.



Saliva - Nature's Mouthwash

A very important fact to remember when battling bad breath is that saliva is our friend. A dry mouth represents the perfect environment for odor causing bacteria. Saliva acts as nature's mouthwash by keeping the mouth moist, washing away bacteria, and dissolving foul smelling volatile sulfur compounds.

Conditions which reduce saliva flow or which make our mouth dry can therefore lead to bad breath. In fact, the morning breath which many people experience after a long night of sleep is caused by the reduction in saliva flow that occurs when we sleep.

Dieting, fasting, or talking for long periods of time reduce saliva flow and contribute to bad breath. In addition, certain medications, alcohol consumption, and breathing through the nose during exercise cause dry mouth contributing to the problem.

How do you make sure your saliva flow is adequate and that your mouth stays moist ? Drink water. Saliva flow increases when we eat or drink. If you are dieting or fasting, drinking water is a good way to stimulate the flow of saliva. The water will also help wash away food and bacteria.

Placing a drop of lemon juice on the tip of your tongue or chewing sugarless gum are also effective ways to stimulate saliva flow. It is a commonly held notion in the medical community that mints and breath freshening gums work not by masking odor but by stimulating saliva flow.

Copyright 1998, 1999 - Market Access

bad breath relief : The Cause of Temporary Bad Breath

We have all probably experienced bad breath caused by eating certain foods. We eat a meal and then suffer with embarrassing bad breath later. The culprits are sulfur compounds found in certain foods like garlic and cabbage. These sulfur compounds cause breathe to smell bad.

When we eat, sulfur compounds from foods are absorbed by our digestive systems. Contrary to popular belief, sulfur compounds do not cause bad breath as a result of working their way back up into the mouth from the stomach.

Rather, the sulfur compounds move from the digestive system into the bloodstream where they are carried to the lungs. Here the lungs expel the sulfur compounds from the body by way of the air that we exhale ! Amazingly, many of these sulfur compounds are also excreted in sweat from the skin and in urine for hours to even days after the food containing them is eaten.

How can you get rid of this type of bad breath ? One option is to avoid the foods that cause bad breath such as cabbage and onions. Alternatively, you can use one of several new products on the market which attack and neutralize the sulfur compounds while they are in the digestive system or in the bloodstream.

Bacteria - The Cause of Chronic Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath is constant long standing bad breath. Although a little harder to treat, it can be treated nevertheless. The problem starts with bacteria. Did you know that over 170 different types of bacteria live in our mouths?

These bacteria feed on bits of food left on our teeth after meals. Feasting on these "leftovers", bacteria produce sulfur compounds (Volatile Sulfur Compounds -VSCs) which once again give breath its foul smell.

Many of these bacteria are anaerobic meaning that they can not live in the presence of oxygen. How do they live in the mouth which is exposed to oxygen every time we breathe? These bacteria hide in places where oxygen can not reach - under plaque and food debris, in the spaces between the teeth and gums, and in the deep crevices of the tongue.

This is why proper dental care is important in eliminating bad breath. Brushing and flossing:

Remove bacteria from the mouth.
Remove the layer of plaque, food debris, and dead cells which protect bacteria from oxygen.
Remove the left-over microscopic food particles which bacteria use to create the odorous sulfur particles.

Copyright 1998, 1999 - Market Access-----

bad breath relief : Halitosis-Treatment

Brush and Floss Your Teeth Properly
Bacteria thrive on food particles on our teeth to create Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VLCs), which cause bad breath. At least 2 minutes of brushing is necessary to properly clean all tooth surfaces. In addition 30% of the surfaces of our teeth is not cleanable with a brush. This makes flossing absolutely critical!

Use Bad Breath Relief Products
Halitosis Toothpaste, Non-alcoholic Sulfur reducing mouth rinses, sugar free chewing gum and breath mints.

Clean Your Tongue
Anaerobic bacteria thrive in the fissures and mucous layer of the tongue, sometimes creating a visible whitish layer. They live safe from oxygen under a protective layer of mucous, food particles and proteins . Tongue cleaners can remove this layer and much of the bacteria which resides on your tongue.One of the easiest and most efficient treatments for halitosis is mechanical debridement. This means thorough, regular flossing and brushing of your teeth and your tongue. A tongue scraper can be very helpful as well. When using a tongue scraper, it is best to clean as far back on the tongue as possible, starting from the back and moving toward the front. This scraping motion is done several times in row.

Drink Plenty of Water
Keeping hydrated allows proper salivary flow to help rinse and flush out unwanted bacteria.

Use Mouthwashes
Effective oral rinses must eliminate the problematic bacteria while maintaining the balance of normal bacteria in the oral environment. The assorted types of rinses being developed and marketed contain quaternary ammonium, zinc, chlorhexidine (already in use to help treat periodontitis), chlorine dioxide, or triclosan. Chlorhexidine and chlorine dioxide rinses have received the most press lately. Because chlorhexidine is such a strong antimicrobial rinse, it is advised to only use this type of rinse as a short-term adjunct for treatment. At present, chlorine dioxide can be used on a long-term basis, although some researchers do question its safety. In lab experiments, chlorine dioxide has been shown to be effective by breaking the sulfide bonds in VSCs, but this finding has not yet been substantiated using live subjects.Chlorine dioxide neutralizes the sulfur compounds which cause bad breath. A majority of mouth rinses contain alcohol, which actually dries out the mouth and can end up contributing to halitosis.

Chew Sugarless Gum
Chewing stimulates saliva and aids in cleaning out noxious bacteria.

Check for Signs of Gingivitis and Other Dental Problems
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums and ligaments which support the teeth. This leads to bone loss and deep pockets between the teeth and gums which are not easily cleanable. Extremely high amounts of bacteria can live in these pockets and need aggressive cleaning therapies to reduce bad breath. Signs of periodontitis include red or swollen gums, loose teeth, bleeding gums, pus, pain on chewing.

Systemic Disease Management
Other management tools include antibiotics, nasal mucous control methods, avoidance of certain foods and medications, salivary substitutes, and management of systemic diseases.

Get Regular Dental Check-ups
Twice yearly dental check-ups are a good idea for all adults. This is because people often do not become aware of dental problems until considerable damage has occurred. A dentist can recognize potentially damaging problems early. In addition, the dentist can diagnose other problems which cause bad breath including abscesses, periodontal disease, cavities, and impacted teeth.

Copyright © 1998-2006 Dr.Rajiv S. Khosla All rights reserved

bad breath relief : Halitosis-Detection

While most of the population has transient halitosis, chronic malodor is less common. Regardless of the type of halitosis, proper diagnosis is important. The difficulty in determining whether an individual has halitosis and its possible cause/s arises because there are no convenient methods to measure this condition. Some self-monitoring tests and in-office tests are available to aid in the diagnosis, although they are either awkward or still need research to ensure their viability.

Self-monitoring tests generally involve obtaining feedback from a spouse or friend. Individuals may have difficulty detecting halitosis themselves because the brain has the ability to suppress odours stemming from ourselves. While procuring an odour judge may be embarrassing, it is the best method for at-home breath testing. If the odour judge does not wish to smell the patient's breath directly, the patient can scrape the posterior region of the tongue with a spoon or place saliva on the wrist by licking it. The spoon or wrist can then be smelled and assessed by the odour judge. The spoon test is better in case the saliva is not a good carrier of the potential odorant. There is also a home microbial test which is comprised of cotton-tipped applicators and test tubes containing a specific medium. After the applicators are placed on the tongue, they are inserted in the test tubes. If the color in the test tube changes within a certain time period, this is an indication that you have chronic bad breath.

In-office testing can include odour judge testing, microbial and fungal testing, the salivary incubation test, volatile sulfur detection testing, and, in the future, artificial noses. Among other problems, the current tests lack specificity, i.e. it is difficult to determine either the existence or the cause of chronic halitosis. The most recent machine on the market for detecting halitosis, a portable sulfide monitor, also has its proponents and critics. The machine is designed to measure sulfur content in the breath, but it can be inaccurate. At this point, the machine is better for monitoring a patient's progress than in obtaining an initial diagnosis. Most dental offices do not have the capability yet to perform these tests.

Copyright © 1998-2006 Dr.Rajiv S. Khosla All rights reserved

bad breath relief : Bad Breath (Halitosis)

What Is Halitosis?
More than 90 million people suffer from chronic halitosis or bad breath. In most cases it originates from the gums and tongue. The odor is caused by bacteria from the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth, and poor oral hygiene. The decay and debris produce a sulfur compound that causes the unpleasant odor.

CAUSES

Anaerobic Bacteria
Studies have shown that about 85% patients suffering from halitosis have an oral condition as the source.If a person has healthy teeth and gums (i.e. no cavities, periodontitis, or abscesses), the next most common source of oral malodour is the tongue. Bacteria which produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) have been found to congregate on the tongue, especially the posterior one third.These bacteria can be found on the surface of the tongue, throat, teeth, and periodontal pockets in the gums.

Tongue and Throat Collect Bacteria
Saliva from nearby glands drips down on the posterior region of the tongue, which is full of irregularities where bacteria love to hide. The anaerobic bacteria (bacteria which thrive without oxygen) break down specific components (amino acids) of the saliva, creating certain gases or VSCs. These VSCs have been implicated as a major contributing factor to halitosis.If your Tongue has a white coating, this is evidence of excessive anaerobic bacteria buildup.

Medications
One of the most common side effects of thousands of medications is dry mouth (xerostomia). Bacteria tend to thrive in this environment.

Dry Mouth /Mouth Breathing
Mouth breathing during sleep dries the mouth, creating the dreaded 'morning breath'. Other causes of dry mouth include medications, exercise, dieting, alcohol or alcohol based mouth rinses, smoking.Other contributing oral factors of halitosis include inflammatory conditions, oral cancer, oral candidiasis,etc.

Systemic Conditions
While the oral cavity is by far the most common source of bad breath, systemic conditions can also be responsible for this condition. Nasal and sinus problems, including foreign bodies inserted in the nose and neglected for a period of time, can be a cause. Repetitive tonsillar infections, infections of the oropharynx, pulmonary diseases (such as bronchitis and pneumonia), and gastrointestinal problems are all possible contributing factors. Certain systemic diseases produce particular odours. A few of these relationships include liver failure producing a rotten egg smell, diabetes producing a sweet smell, intestinal dysfunction producing heavy sour breath, and scarlet or typhoid fever producing a musty smell.

Diet
Many foods (ie: Dairy) contribute to the ability of bacteria to create VLCs.Very spicy foods, such as onions and garlic, and coffee may be detected on a person's breath for up to 72 hours after digestion. Onions, for example, are absorbed by the stomach and the odor is then excreted through the lungs. Studies even have shown that garlic rubbed on the soles of the feet can show up on the breath.
Acids in foods such as coffee decrease oxygenation and can cause this bacteria to thrive.

Copyright © 1998-2006 Dr.Rajiv S. Khosla All rights reserved

Cause of Bad Breath

For a long time, no one really understood the cause of halitosis (bad breath) but, fortunately, researchers have been studying the problem, and we now know what the source of bad breath is. In the vast majority of cases, that foul odor we detect on someone else's breath (and fear on our own) is caused by a group of bacteria living in the mouth. These bacteria are anaerobic, that is, they live in the absence of oxygen, and they produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), which smell like rotten eggs.

Everyone probably has some of these VSC producing anaerobes in their mouth: these organism are normal in small numbers, and they simply share the oral territory with numerous other microscopic organisms. In order to become the cause of halitosis, the smelly anaerobes have to multiply to abnormally large numbers, pushing out some of the other organisms. Though it is not yet clear why this happens, understanding what is going on helps researchers to design a bad breath product that will effectively deal with the problem.

The aim of an effective bad breath product should not be to wipe out all bacterial organisms in the mouth, but rather to selectively target the anaerobes that are the cause of halitosis. If the other bacteria can be given the chance to reestablish themselves in normal numbers, the anaerobes can be discouraged from over-multiplying again - don't expect to wipe them all out: even the best bad breath product will only reduce them to small numbers that don't produce a detectable odor. Unfortunately, some people will need to continue treating bad breath indefinitely unless science finds an explanation for why anaerobes multiply in the first place.

Sometimes the underlying condition supporting the bacteria that are the cause of halitosis is obvious. Poor oral health - tooth decay, gum disease, or any other chronic inflammation in the mouth, can create ideal conditions for the odor producers. Chronic sinusitis and post nasal drip can also be a factor. More serious things, like malignancies and lung problems, should also be considered. The best bad breath product will not cure halitosis under these conditions, though it may provide temporary relief.

Nonetheless, though chronic and serious health problems can be the cause of halitosis, the simple answer is usually the right one. If you have reason to suspect a health issue, see your doctor. Otherwise, tackle the VSCs and the unpleasant bacteria producing them by purchasing a quality bad breath product and using it as directed.
R. Drysdale