Foods To Avoid That Cause Bad Breath

Did you know that there are specific foods that may lead to bad breath? This is because of volatile sulfur compounds - the culprit in causing bad breath!

For example, if food sits out too long it will spoil. That spoiling action is due to anaerobic bacteria breaking down proteins in that particular food. In milk, the odor of sour milk is caused by relatives of the bugs that create bad breath when they break down proteins in the milk (and basically in all dairy foods). A reaction takes place where 'the bad breath bugs' extract sulfur compounds from the amino acids in these proteins. Specifically, the amino acid Cysteine is converted to Hydrogen Sulfide (which has a rotten egg smell) and Methionine becomes Methyl Mercaptan (which smells like a cross between old socks and garlic). The same analogy applies to meat if it sits out too long.

Everyone knows that onions and garlic will create bad breath. But do you know why? It's because the odorous molecules in onions and garlic are actually sulfur compounds themselves called Mercaptans. Sulfur is nature's way of creating odors. You're all familiar with the skunk. Its odor is created by a defense and/or attack mechanism. Skunk odor is made up of skatoles, which are naturally occurring sulfur compounds. In a similar fashion, bacteria in your mouth creates the volatile sulfur compounds of bad breath and taste disorders.

There are 4 food categories that will result in an increase of sulfur production because these categories have a stimulating affect on the bacteria that cause bad breath:

1. Drying Agents
2. Dense Protein Foods
3. Sugars
4. Acidic Foods

Let's look closely at each of these food categories and how they stimulate bad breath!

DRYING AGENTS
The most common drying agent in food is alcohol. Alcohol of course, is the basis of all "adult" beverages such as beer, wine, and hard liquor. It is also used, unfortunately, in many mouthwashes you find in the grocery stores, which only makes a bad breath problem worse.
Alcohol, known chemically as a desiccant, is used quite often in laboratories to "dry out" hard to reach areas in test tubes and beakers. The same end result takes place in the oral cavity.
Although cigarettes are not really food, smoking is probably the quickest way to dry out your mouth, with alcohol being the second. If you smoke, you are bound to have bad breath!

DENSE PROTEIN FOODS
Dairy foods are notorious for creating bad breath. An article that appeared in the "Los Angeles Times" once noted that over 50% of the population in Southern California was "lactose intolerant". With regards to bad breath, many of these people (numbering in the tens of millions) end up with more dense proteins available as bad breath fuel for the bacteria than those who have no problem with dairy foods like milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc. The end result is a buildup of amino acids, which are easily converted into volatile sulfur compounds by the anaerobic bacteria found within the surface of your tongue and throat.

To a lesser extent, people have the same problem with other types of food that are considered to be dense in protein such as beef, chicken, and fish.

Another problem, thankfully rare, has to do with people who have an inability to break down certain proteins found in beans. This condition is called TMA (Trimethylaminuria) and is sometimes known as the "Fish Odor Syndrome," because the odor produced is similar to decaying fish. The odor consists of sulfur compounds, plus nitrogen compounds (amines). People with this condition must abstain from beans and other types of food that are dense in protein.

SUGARS
Wouldn't it be great if we could get rid of bad breath by chewing on M&Ms? Or what if the cure for bad breath were Hershey Kisses?
That's what the makers of Altoids would have you believe. Altoids, and other products of the same ilk, are trying to fool the public into believing that a strong "good" taste in your mouth is equivalent to the "freshness" of your breath. This is so anti-scientific it's absurd! If you think about it for a minute, it really doesn't make any sense.

By using concentrated mint flavorings, your taste buds pick up mint as a taste. However, Altoids contains two types of sugar which again, are a fuel for the bacteria to reproduce and create more sulfur compounds - thus bad breath. In addition, the frightening part is that other bacteria can take the sugars and produce glycan strands, which in turn end up causing thick layers of plaque on the enamel of your teeth and around your gums. This leads to tooth decay and gum disease - and you guessed it - worse breath than you started with!

Since you can't smell your own breath, you just go merrily along with that great strong mint taste in your mouth, while others close to you are backing away - backing away from your increased bad breath, decayed teeth, and gross, swollen, bleeding gums!

Stay away from candies, mints, and chewing gum if they contain sugar! Instead, let me recommend an alternative created by TheraBreath called the TheraBreath Oxygenating Chewing Gum (http://www.therabreath.com/products.asp?CAT=5). It releases Oxygen molecules directly into your mouth and also contains the antibacterial agent, Zinc Gluconate. This agent is found in many cold medications. In addition it contains Xylitol, which is a natural sweetening agent with an anti-decay compound.

ACIDIC FOODS
Foods with a high acidic content are a problem as well. pH is a term used to describe the acidity of an environment. The oral cavity has a normal pH of 6.5 (7 is considered neutral). Some of the foods you should watch out for are coffee and many citrus juices. Both decaffeinated and regular coffee contain acids. However, tea is okay. Among the citrus juices the ones with the highest acidic content include tomato juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grapefruit juice.

We know that acids make the bacteria reproduce much faster. In order to decrease the production of odorous sulfur compounds, the acid environment needs to be neutralized.
What can you learn from all this? Avoiding foods that contribute to, if not cause, bad breath is vital if you want to have clean fresh breath. While this is a difficult task, being aware of these bad breath causing elements is the first step in developing confidence in your breath. In addition, it is important to use oral care products that are free of alcohol, sugar, and that also have a high pH level.

Dr. Harold Katz is the worldwide expert on the topics of bad breath, halitosis, and dry mouth. Searching for a bad breath solution? To receive your FREE copy of his easy-to-read "Bad Breath Bible" visit: http://www.TheraBreath.com/web/art/L-FTCBB.asp

Read more »»

How Bad Breath Affects Your Self-Esteem

As a long time sufferer of bad breath (halitosis) I can still remember the day my girlfriend told me I had 'puppy breath'. As affectionate as that may sound, I knew what she really meant was that I had bad breath. Being somewhat shy in the first place, this only compounded my lack of confidence and made me totally aware of my breath problem from that day on.

Rarely was there a date from then on that I didn't have a supply of mints, gum, or some other type of breath altering product available to me. My bad breath was consuming me during my dates with my girlfriend, or being in close contact with anyone else for that matter.

If you are one of the millions of sufferers of chronic bad breath then I'm sure you can relate to me. And I'm not alone. According to the ADA, it is estimated that there are over 27 million people in the United States alone that suffer from chronic halitosis. That doesn't include anyone who only suffers from bad breath occasionally.

Bad breath has become an epidemic that affects both young and old, but could be especially devastating to teens and pre-teens as they cope with a whole array of pre-adolescent problems.
What causes bad breath can be attributed to a wide variety of underlying issues including, poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, bleeding gums, dry mouth, periodontal disease, tooth decay, or one of many other health related problems including sinus infections, diabetes, and even cancer patients undergoing treatments.

If you're like me then you probably have been just trying to mask the symptoms all these years as you could never find a permanent solution to eliminating the symptoms that have been causing it in the first place. But by masking the symptoms you may actually be compounding the exact problem that may have been causing your bad breath all along by not treating it.

But did you know that you can effectively treat bad breath and cure it naturally and fast? There are some excellent products online that can give you the resources to combat the symptoms and eliminate your problem in as little as a few days.

So if you're tired of being embarrassed by bad breath and what you can do about it, then you owe it to yourself to investigate some alternative proven methods in helping you or a loved one cure this self-conscience robbing problem.

Ted Kushner, a long time sufferer of chronic bad breath (halitosis), knows how it can affect your self-conscience and rob you of your self-esteem and wants to inform the public on how you can go about in treating it. To learn more about what causes bad breath and the available proven methods of treating it visit: http://www.affiliaterevenuesources.com/bad-breath-cure .

Read more »»

Bad Breath Cause & Cure

Millions of people throughout the world suffer from bad breath. The main cause of bad breath may be due to bad dental hygiene, bacteria in mouth, infection, diabetes, drugs, gum disease, liver disease, smoking and tooth decay. Plaque on the tongue can cause bad breath where bacteria can grow. If you do not clean your mouth after consuming alcoholic drinks, tobacco chewing, cigarette smoking, and foods like onions, garlic, etc., it can contribute to bad breath.

Bad Breath Cure

If you keep teeth, tongue, and mouth clean, you will not suffer from the problem of bad breath. Brush your teeth along with tongue in the morning, in the evening and after every meal.

• Follow the good oral hygiene rules.
• Wash the tongue with baking soda dissolved in warm water.
• Brush and floss teeth regularly.
• Clean and replace your toothbrush regularly.
• Avoid mouthwashes with dyes and alcohol.
• Parsley, coriander, clove, fennel and anise seeds are great breath freshners.

You should take all care in cleaning your teeth by using proper tooth brush and adopting correct brushing technique.

-----------------
This article has been written by http://www.fatfreekitchen.com. For more natural remedies visit http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/teeth/breath.html for natural bad breath cure.

Copyright www.FatFreeKitchen.com

Read more »»

Is Bad Breath A Sure Sign Of Gum Disease?

The answer is no! While bad breath is a possible sign of gum disease, other common causes crop up as well. For example, tonsil stones can cause bad breath. Tonsil stones are created when decaying food debris collects in the crevices of the tonsils and becomes compacted into what are referred to as "stones." You can have bad breath from tonsil stones without having any gum disease at all.

Post-nasal drip can also cause bad breath, as the discharged mucous provides a rich food for the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath, helping them to multiply rapidly. Again, this sort of bad breath isn't by itself a sign of gum disease.

However, the most common cause of bad breath is a lack of adequate oral hygiene. Improper brushing and flossing, or simply too little of it, can leave large amounts of plaque still stuck to and growing on your teeth and gums. If this growth is allowed to continue unchecked, the anaerobic bacteria has the opportunity to burrow down beneath the gum line, where they form unwelcome pockets of bacterial colonies, ones that are devilishly hard to reach and clean without the help of specialized tools.

Anaerobic bacteria give off a smell much like sulfur, and it is exactly that smell that's most closely associated with bad breath. Occasional bad breath may merely be a signal that it's time to brush again, but persistent or chronic bad breath can be an early warning sign of gum disease.

If you have chronic bad breath as well as tender or inflamed gums, there's a good chance that you are experiencing some level of gum disease. It's important to see your dentist as soon as possible to seek treatment, not only for social reasons, but your overall state of health.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of CuresForBadBreath.com. Stop by to learn more about bad breath cures and home remedies for halitosis. www.curesforbadbreath.com/

Read more »»

The cause of bad breath on low carb diets

The latest dieting craze has no doubt been the low carb high protein diets. Those of you on Atkins, South Beach etc will no doubt have noticed a number of changes since you took up the diet. And no I'm not talking about the remarkable weight loss I am talking about your bad breath.

Now it may not have been noticeable to you but I suggest you ask your friends or relatives whether there has been a detioration and you may be surprised by the answer. In fact you may even find your friends moving away from you when you speak which is always a sure sign of bad breath.

So what's the cause of all this bad air? Well depending on which medical speak you speak with there are a number, yet similar, reasons for the problem. One of the reasons is directly related to the increase in protein which most of the low carb diets advocate.

Basically, we all have a large number of useful bacteria living mainly on our tongue and at the back of our throat. These bacteria are supposed to be there, because they assist humans in digestion by breaking down proteins found in specific foods, mucous or phlegm, blood, and in diseased or "broken-down" oral tissue.

When these "beneficial" bacteria come into contact with these compounds, the odorous and "lousy-tasting" volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs') are released from the back of the tongue and throat, as Hydrogen Sulphide, Methyl Mercaptan, and other odorous and bad tasting compounds.

Since the bacteria are meant to be in our mouth there is no way we can remove them permanently. So, no amount of brushing or tongue scraping will get rid of the VSCs'. The only scientifically proven way of curing your bad breath (Halitosis) is by attacking the bacteria's ability to produce VSCs' and by converting the VSC into non-odorous and non-tasting organic salts.

There are a number of ways in which the problem is worsened and the most common way is with dry mouth. This generally occurs while you are asleep and hence the reason you sometimes wake up with "morning breath".

Although some cases of dry mouth are naturally occurring, most cases are caused by one of these factors:

1. Prescription Medications (usually prescribed for high blood pressure or depression)
2. Antihistamines
3. Adult Beverages
4. Mouthwashes with alcohol in them

When your mouth is dryer, you have less Saliva. Saliva naturally contains Oxygen, which keeps your mouth healthy and fresh. These bacteria are anaerobic, which simply means that they will thrive and make more sulfur in the presence of little or no oxygen. Thus if you have less Saliva, you have less oxygen, thereby creating an anaerobic environment, perfect for the bacteria to produce more of these odorous and sour/bitter compounds.

Because of the increase in higher protein foods, on an Atkins type diet, especially dairy products, the amount of Volatile Sulfur Compounds increases dramatically and as such your breath gets worse accordingly. The only way to fight the problem is to try and supply oxygen to the bacteria causing the problem and remove as much of the VSCs' as possible. This can be done in a number of ways:

• Drink loads of water. This will help ensure your tongue and throat are kept moist and supplying oxygen to the VSC producing bacteria.

• Always clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner before brushing your teeth last thing at night and first thing in morning. You should also try and do this after every meal too.

• Use a mouthwash which does not contain any alcohol as alcohol can dry your mouth and make the problem worse. You can also dramatically improve matters by using an oxygenating mouthwash. You can find one by doing a Google on "oxygenating mouthwash".

• Don't chew gum, which contains sugar, to try and mask the bad breath. This can make matters worse. Use a sugar free gum instead.

The bottom line is that low carb diets will cause bad breath, although for some it will be a lot worse than others. However, help is at hand so if you want to shed the weight and not shed any friends then make sure and heed the advice given above.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

About the Author: Paul Haughney is an advocate of the low carb diet after loosing 45lbs over an 18-month period. He has a website dedicated to low carb which includes free low carb recipes, recommended books and much more.

Read more »»

Prevent Bad Breath By Eliminating The Triggers

Bad breath simply comes and goes for some people. Perhaps we only wake up with bad breath in the morning. Or eating certain foods, like onion or pizza. These are more obvious triggers for bad breath. But the bacteria that release the volatile sulfur compounds of bad breath find a great breeding ground in tongues that are coated or lined with cracks.

Mucous and phlegm also contain proteins, and these bacteria exist to break down proteins. So if you suffer from phlegmatic nasal conditions, there's a good chance there is an associated increase in bad breath.

However, despite any existing conditions like fissured tongues or excess phlegm, that are more difficult to change, there are things we can avoid to minimize bad breath occurring.

What makes bad breath worse?

• A dry mouth: Saliva keeps bad breath at bay because it is rich in oxygen. The bacteria that lead to symptoms of bad breath are anaerobic bacteria, meaning they live in an environment that does not have oxygen. When you have a dry mouth you're creating an environment that is more similar to their 'home', one that has little oxygen. So the bacteria thrive, and so does bad breath.
  

This is a problem for people who sleep with their mouths open, in particular.
Breathing through your mouth all night dries out your mouth so you wake up with
less-than-pleasant morning breath.

• Certain foods that are high in protein like meat, and for those who are lactose intolerant, dairy: If you don't digest dairy products well, the bacteria have more of a chance to digest the proteins in milk and produce the volatile sulfur compounds that result in bad breath.
  

• Not flossing: Similarly, if you don't floss after a meal, especially if you've eaten meat, the bacteria in your mouth have ample time to break down the meat proteins stuck between your teeth.
  

• Acidic foods and drinks like coffee: Acidic foods and drinks create an environment in which bacteria will multiply faster
  

• Alcohol: Even if its in a mouthwash, alcohol will dry your mouth out, and then you have all the bad breath problems associated with a dry mouth

• Sugar: Sugar is food for bacteria. Enough said!! And this is why even mint flavored sugar products won't make your breath smell any better.
  

• Toothpaste containing SLS, or sodium laureth sulfate: SLS is a harsh chemical that damages the lining of the mouth, albeit on a microscopic level. In the lab, SLS is used to destabilize membranes, and make protein and fats soluble. That's why it has a 'soapy' or foaming effect. Because it is a soap, it has a drying effect in your mouth. This of course leads to bad breath. It has also been linked to canker sores, and many people who suffer from these have found relief by switching to a toothpaste that doesn't contain SLS.
  

References:

1. www.therabreath.com

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Find out more about bad breath causes and triggers in this article. Plus a simple home remedy for a toothache to tide you over until you can get to a dentist.

Read more »»

Stop Bad Breath Without Gums, Mouthwashes or Drugs

One of the unfortunate things about bad breath is that we may not know we have bad breath until we speak. By this stage, we will have engaged in a social or business situation where we may cause people to recoil from us - even if subconsciously - at the very moment when we are trying to improve our relationship with them. If this group knows us well, this is less of a problem.

Friends are more likely to be forgiving of the little things about us that perhaps jar them. But if we don't know these people well, we may have just sullied the all important first impressions that are the crucial beginning of any relationship - social, intimate, or business.

Bad breath is undoubtably a problem - frustrating, and usually recurring. Perhaps it gets covered up by mints and candy, but there are situations when we cannot always be chewing on gum. Its unprofessional in a business meeting, impractical when we're having lunch, and impossible when we're intimate with someone.

Bad breath is caused by bacteria. More specifically, the volatile sulfur compounds that are the result of the breakdown of two sulfur containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine. These bacteria live in the mouth and throat, and because they are anaerobic bacteria, they do not live on the surface of the tongue. They actually exist in the fibers which the tongue is made up of.

The bad news is that you cannot get rid of these bacteria permanently, despite the promise of some bad breath treatments. And you actually wouldn't want to, despite the inconvenience they cause when they are working overtime to produce bitter tasting and bad smelling metabolic byproducts. These bacteria are actually part of the digestive process, which begins in the mouth. You need them, and they need you!

There are things that make this normal aspect of digestion worse, however. Foods like dairy products and eating too much protein. That's why one very common side effect of the high protein Atkins diet is bad breath. The proteins in these foods gives these bacteria more 'fuel' to create even more volatile sulfur compounds. They are just doing their job, with very unpleasant after effects. And coffee contains acids which allow the bacteria to multiply. So for the social situations where you want to minimize bad breath, its a simple thing to avoid these foods and drinks.

Tea, on the other hand, can stop the growth of these bacteria. Researchers in Chicago at the University of Illinois have found that the polyphenols in tea can not only reduce the output of the volatile sulfur compounds by 30%, but they make it harder for the bacteria to multiply. The polyphenols active in this bad breath remedy are catechins and theaflavins. Catchetins are found in both green and black tea, and theaflavins are only found in black tea. So a strategy to prevent bad breath might be to avoid the alcohol at important lunches and dinners, and drink black tea instead! Alcohol, because it dries your mouth out, will aggravate bad breath.

References:

1. www.therabreath.com
2. www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=37915

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

You don't have to live with bad breath. For your guide to bad breath cause and treatments, click here. And for simple home remedies like this home remedy for a toothache, click here.

Read more »»