Saturday, January 6, 2007

Bad Breath Cure

“The face that launched a thousand ships,” is how a beauty of the ancient Greek world is described in poetry. Was the real reason bad breath, one wonders? This may be a flippant speculation but it is no secret that no beauty or beauty aids can mask the terror that stalks human beings in face- to- face encounters. Men and women lose tons of goodwill in everyday transactions, in their personal as well as professional relationships and they are looking for a bad breath remedy.

Temporary and chronic
The subject of bad breath cure is kept under covers, but the best bad breath solution is to meet the problem head on, admit that there is a problem, identify the cause and then deal with it with a will. The cause of bad breath could be temporary, like when you eat odorous things like onion, garlic, fish or meat and spicy curries. Smoking and consumption of alcoholic liquor also create their own odour, but people conveniently exclude them from consideration! What thou sowest, that thou reapest; what thou eatest and drinkest, that thou smellest!

The morning breath is a passing phenomenon and the normal brushing takes care of it. The transitory breath odor can be controlled and prevented by thorough gargling, brushing of teeth after the meal and before retiring, chewing of mint and what have you.

But chronic bad breath, called Halitosis in medical parlance, is quite another cup of tea. It is caused by the bacteria that are active in the tongue. They are beneficial as they help break down the proteins. But as the bacteria die, their dead cells release a sulphur compound that causes a typical odor. Doctors have even invented an odor meter that can measure the amount of such sulphur by-products of our oral factory.

The mouth tells a hundred tales
The cause of bad breath is not far to seek. For the most part, it lies in the mouth and in our lack of oral hygiene.
· The tongue is rough and has plenty of spaces including cracks for lodgment of the smelly sulphur compounds. Scraping with tongue cleaners specially the back of the tongue is advised by doctors as most of action takes place there between bacterial plaque and food debris.
· Food particles which are left behind on the tongue and in between teeth decompose and produce the malodorous effect.
· The food debris also leaves behind plaque on the teeth and between the gum and the teeth. These become depositories for bacteria that account for the cavities and afford hideouts for elements that churn the witches’ brew day and night. They produce odours that make us unpopular in company. We are no longer sought out, but assiduously kept at arm’s length.
· Periodontal (cavities) infection and gum diseases like gingivitis play a large role in creation of bad breath. Timely treatment of both is essential for a healthy mouth. Preventive maintenance should include daily flossing and massaging of the gums with fingers after brushing the teeth.
· Sinus infections are another source of odor and they are treatable with sinus irrigators.
· Ulcers in the mouth have to be investigated and the cause dealt with.
· Home remedy for bad breath will not work if the cause of bad breath lies deeper. People who suffer from diabetes, liver disease, bronchitis, inflammation of the nasal-sinus tract, tuberculosis, certain types of cancer and so on emit trademark odors which the doctors can identify. It is clear that bad breath is only a symptom and it is the cause that has to be identified and treated.

Healthy habits save us embarrassment
Adam and Eve also must have wondered how to get rid of bad breath because they had not invented the toothbrush. Perhaps they were eating plenty of fruits, greens and other raw food which kept their mouth and gastro-intestinal tract in constant renewal. Holistic experts say that it is not only the state of the mouth but the entire gastro-intestinal highway that should be cleared regularly of toxins and putrid matters if a healthy and odorless breath is to be secured.

Are we drinking enough water and maintaining the fluid level in the body? A tongue that runs dry is said to harbour bacterial cells that work overtime during the night. Are we flossing every night and getting rid of food debris that lies between teeth? Irrigators and dental cleansing kits are now available and they make for effective oral hygiene. A note of cheer The lasting bad breath remedy / bad breath solution lie in intelligent appraisal of the problem, identifying the cause and then initiating the treatment. The cheering news from doctors is that most cases of chronic bad breath have their origin in the mouth and can be successfully treated. They are purely a dental concern. But ten percent of the cases could have a deeper medical cause and will need appropriate treatment for the disease in question.
http://www.vitality4lifeshop.com.au/

By Arokiasami P. Durai

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Friday, January 5, 2007

Bad Breath Bible

Perhaps you've heard of something called the bad breath bible. There is, in fact, such a thing. It's a book written by Dr. Harold Katz, a specialist in the treatment of halitosis and the developer of a line of products for doing just that (TheraBreath).

Dr. Katz's website tells us that he was a practicing dentist before he became interested in researching and treating bad breath. His book is a summary of his research and his understanding of the problem.

The product that Dr. Katz is selling is sometimes described as a bad breath natural remedy because it does not contain the antibacterial chemicals so common in over the counter mouthwashes (however, it does contain the chemical sodium chlorite). His approach, instead, is to deliver oxygen to regions of the mouth where there is little air circulation and anaerobic bacteria flourish. (Anaerobic bacteria live in the absence of oxygen and produce the foul odors that we associate with bad breath.) The bad breath bible explains not only where these bacteria are found, but how they cause halitosis and why Katz's product should work to control them.

There may not be any really ground-shaking information in the bad breath bible: we have known for some time that foul breath odor is produced by bacteria and that these bacteria are anaerobes living on the surface of the tongue, between the teeth, in pockets and creases in the gums, and in the tonsillar crypts. People have used different approaches for eliminating these bacteria, particularly antibacterial mouthwashes, and sometimes even antibiotics. The delivery of oxygen to anaerobic areas in the oral cavity is one of several new approaches that seek a bad breath natural remedy. Though the treatment uses sodium chlorite, this is described as a very safe chemical that simply reacts in the mouth to release oxygen. Other natural ingredients in some of the products include zinc to reduce bad tastes and tartar, and tea tree oil as a natural antimicrobial.

Whether or not you're keen on trying the line of products that the bad breath bible recommends, it will likely provide you with a source of information about halitosis and answers to many questions that you have. It is often available for download free from Katz's website, and will doubtless clarify the question of whether there might truly be a bad breath natural remedy.

By R. Drysdale

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Bad Breath Guide, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.

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Thursday, January 4, 2007

Bad Breath and Acid Reflux

Is there a connection between bad breath and acid reflux? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition where stomach contents return up the esophagus, sometimes all the way to the mouth, causing heartburn and an unpleasant bitter taste.

Many professionals and health writers list GERD as a possible cause of breath odor, but few go into any detail about what produces the bad odor. Given that there may be a demonstrable connection, there are a couple of explanations we can consider.

First, symptoms of bad breath and acid reflux often strike after consumption of a large meal. Many foods, though we love to eat them, don't smell too good on the breath afterwards. These include garlic (probably the best known food cause of bad breath), onions, strong cheeses, spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, and a number of other foods. When a recently consumed meal is pushed back up the esophagus, it wouldn't be surprising that an unpleasant smell is produced on the breath.

Secondly, it's no secret that one's stomach contents don't smell too good. The stomach is an acid environment where foods start to break down in preparation for digestive processes in the intestine. If enough time has passed since the food was consumed, stomach contents that return up the esophagus in a case of GERD will have the sharp acidic smell of vomit - an unpleasant odor producing an atypical halitosis and suggesting a link between bad breath and acid reflux.
Thirdly, in cases of chronic GERD, acid stomach liquids repeatedly come in contact with, and burn, the lining of the esophagus. Because the damage recurs frequently, the tissue never has time to heal completely and is thus chronically irritated with continual production of dead tissue. Dead tissue has an unpleasant odor, and when it is present in the esophagus, it's likely to produce an indirect connection between bad breath and acid reflux.

But, the truth is, there doesn't seem to be a really strong correlation between bad breath and acid reflux itself. A relatively low percentage of people with GERD experience chronic halitosis. Instead, researchers recently reported at the 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (2006) that there is an apparent connection between proton pump inhibitors (drugs commonly used to treat GERD), and chronic bad breath. The drugs, it seems, may cause an overgrowth of odor producing bacteria in the mouth - and anaerobic odor producing bacteria in the mouth are by far the most common cause of chronic halitosis.

By R. Drysdale

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Bad Breath Guide, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.

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Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Bad Breath (Halitosis) Causes and Treatments

Halitosis or bad breath is a common condition that affects up to 25% of the population in varying degrees. Halitosis is usually caused by poor mouth hygiene, mouth infection, oral disorder, food and drinks, constipation and medication. It can be cured through right diagnosis and treatments.



Breath odor is usually caused by oral bacteria and as a result, release unpleasant smell. Poor mouth hygiene, such as infrequent brushing or flossing of teeth, allows the flourish of these oral bacteria. The decayed food leftovers in the mouth and in between the teeth can cause bad odor too. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing can take away food leftovers in the mouth and in between teeth.

Oral disorder like gum problem and tooth decay can also cause halitosis. To fight bad breath caused by gums and tooth problems, consult your dentist and have the problem sorted out. Halitosis caused by mouth infection (sore mouth) and throat infections (tonsillitis and sore throat) will disappear when the infections are cured

Some experts explained that some people tend to have more bacteria concentrations in their tongue than normal which then causes bad breath. No matter how careful they are, they would still have bad breath. A regular scrapping of tongue with some special scrapper will help. Seeking a doctor's advice can be a big help in eliminating the disorder.

In addition, foods and drinks that we take through the mouth can cause bad breath. Raw garlic can leave pungent odor and may blend with breath. The same is true for alcoholic drinks and cigars. Chewing menthol-flavored gums and mints can help to sweeten breath and mask the odor.

Food allergy or intolerance can cause bad breath. Feeling bloated and full all the time as your stomach creates gas, which, withdraws in your mouth, causes the smell. The best solution is to avoid the foods that cause the allergy symptoms.

Constipation sufferers may have bad breath. Waste on bowels build up in the body can cause back production of gases which are being eliminated via breath. Bad breath caused by constipation should disappear when passing of stools becomes normal. High-fibre diet helps bowel to function regularly. Sufferers should exercise regularly and drink plenty of water.

Medication can also induce bad breath due to the presence of chemical substances in some drugs. Patients on long term medication may seek doctor's advice on whether it would possible to get a replacement drug. For patients on short term medication, chew parsley or mint to sweeten the breath seems to be a better solution.

Sleeping with open mouth also leads to bad breath. This can be observed if your breath is worst in the morning after waking up. Open mouth reduces saliva which freshens our mouth and therefore encourages bad breath to develop. If your nasal problems that cause you to breath through mouth, you need to see your physician for some sound advice.

Commercial breath-freshening products provide temporary relief since these products only mask mouth odors for a short period of time. These products do not solve the problem of bad breath. To solve the problem permanently, you need to find the cause of the halitosis and take the right treatment. Good mouth hygiene is important to keep your mouth fresh. Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist. This prevents bacterial from building up in your mouth and thereby helps to reduce bad breath.

By Eelynn Lee

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Food for Health. Food For Weight Control. Food as Medicine. Everything About Food Nutrition Such As Vital Vitamins, Dietary Minerals, Fibre, Fat and Carbohydrate.

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Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Bad Breath / Halitosis

Bad breath is another term for the medical condition halitosis. Breath odor is a very common problem and there are many different causes. The condition is normally caused by the bacteria that reside in the patient’s mouth.

Bad breath is also caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which happens when the flow of saliva drops. In some instances, bad breath is the outcome of just a dirty mouth. The unfortunate side of bad breath is that you cannot usually smell it yourself.

The term halitosis was originally 'coined' by the Listerine company a long time ago. In the 1920’s, i think it was. A lot of folk will experience a certain degree of halitosis at some time in their lives. A dental examination is a good idea for normal instances of halitosis, as only a qualified dentist or possibly a doctor can definitely tell you that you have halitosis. There is a good chance that either you, or someone in your family, suffers from halitosis (chronic bad breath).

If you do not brush and floss on a regular basis, bits of food can stay in your mouth. You then collect bacteria, which can then be the cause bad breath. The great evil which is smoking can also be a major reason for bad breath. If you wear dentures just make sure they are always fresh and clean, and avoid the plaque build-up on them that can cause bad breath. Avoid eating any foods that cause you to have bad breath. I am sure you know which foods I am talking about. On occasion, tonsillitis can also cause bad breath.

For a long time humans have been looking for a remedy for bad breath. And many people have found one. Black tea is a strong remedy against bad breath. One home remedy is to dissolve baking soda in water and cleanse the tongue with this. Another good remedy for bad breath is avocado, which is far better than any mouth lotion or remedies for this condition. Another simple remedy for bad breath, which you probably never considered, is just drink water.
Bad Breath is an embarrassing problem. Bad breath is also a taboo subject to most people. The good news is chronic bad breath {halitosis} is a really treatable condition. Just remember nearly all cases of bad breath are caused by a problem of some type in the mouth.

By James Hunaban

James Hunaban is the owner of bad-breath.health-info4u.com - a site dedicated to Bad Breath . Go there now and read some interesting articles on the subject.

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Monday, January 1, 2007

Atkins Diet Bad Breath

People following the famous Atkins diet often encounter an unexpected and unpleasant side effect - Atkins diet bad breath. It's not their imagination that the diet causes an unpleasant odor on the breath, and it's very difficult to get rid of the problem while remaining on the diet.
That's because this particular type of bad breath is not caused by the usual things.

Most cases of breath odor are caused by the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) in the mouth. Anaerobic oral bacteria live in our mouths by the billions. They derive nutrition from food particles, sloughed off skin cells and other body proteins. When certain species predominate - species that produce VSC as a byproduct of metabolism - an unpleasant odor on the breath results. In the case of Atkins diet bad breath, the odor is not coming from the mouth and it isn't produced by the metabolism of bacteria. It's produced by the person's own metabolism.

The Atkins diet is based on severely restricting carbohydrates in the diet - especially in the early stages, dieters are allowed virtually no carbohydrates at all. Since carbohydrates are the usual source of energy in the body, their restriction forces the body to look for other sources of energy. It turns to stored fat - fat cells that most dieters have in plenty. When the human metabolism starts to break down fat cells for energy, a process called ketosis, ketones are produced as a byproduct and this is the agent of Atkins diet bad breath. Ketones are expelled in the urine and in the breath. In the breath, they are detected as a distinctly unpleasant odor - bad breath.

It's difficult to resolve the problem of Atkins diet bad breath as long as you stay on the diet: as long as your metabolism has no carbohydrates to break down, ketones will be produced by the breakdown of fat. Indeed, ketosis is the aim of the Atkins diet in the first place. In later stages of the diet, enough carbohydrates may be added to alleviate the problem; however, some dieters will have to settle for more carbohydrates and slower weight loss if they cannot tolerate the halitosis.

Breath freshening products may provide some relief and won't compromise the diet as long as they do not contain carbohydrates. For this particular problem, the products such as lozenges and breath strips that have a strong odor, usually mint, to mask bad breath are the best choices. Many people, however, will find it difficult to continue their use over the long term. For persistent Atkins diet bad breath, the best solution may be to find a different diet.

By R. Drysdale

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Atkins Diet Bad Breath, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.

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Alleviating Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath or halitosis can be a cause of discomfort and embarrassment for many people. It is very important to maintain good oral hygiene to ensure minimizing or eliminating bad breath.


Since the main cause of breath odor is the bacteria that thrive on the food present in the mouth, hence there are two ways by which bad breath can be alleviated. One way is to minimize the food available to the bacteria and another way is to minimize the number of bacteria present in the mouth. Brushing and cleaning of mouth thoroughly after every meal ensures that there is no food particle left in the mouth for the bacteria to break down. Toothbrushes should be changed often and the bristles should be chosen accordingly. Proper flossing of teeth takes out small particles of food that gets stuck between the teeth or under the gums. An individual should clean the tongue using a tongue scraper to remove dead cells and bacteria at least once a day.

The types of food that are eaten also are a cause of bad breath. Hence, food with strong odors like garlic and onions should be avoided by individuals with chronic bad breath. After eating food with strong smells the mouth should be immediately cleaned. Use of mints, mouthwash and gums minimizes bad breath.

Since a high protein diet is another cause of bad breath, people with bad breath should focus on a balanced diet and substantial intake of carbohydrates required by the body. To control the bad breath caused by a high protein diet, chewing of sugarless gums, parsley, carrots, mints and mouth fresheners can be useful. Chewing of gums also increases the flow of saliva in the mouth, which is a natural mouthwash. Intake of water should be liberal as water reduces the formation of plaque. Drinking at least eight glasses of water in a day also washes away the food particles that may contribute to a bad breath problem. In case bad breath persists for a long time, it is recommended to consult a dentist as bad breath may be a symptom of some other medical problem.

By Kent Pinkerton

Bad Breath provides detailed information on Bad Breath, Bad Breath Cure, Cause Of Bad Breath, Stop Bad Breath and more. Bad Breath is affiliated with Clear Braces.

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