Philippine News Today #86 :
(Originally Posted) Nov. 2009

Halitosis is a scientific word that refers to oral malodor or bad breath. Some people may not be aware that they have halitosis and others may have suffered from psychosocial problems because of a lingering, uncured chronic bad breath. This is one particular condition that is so embarrassing to point out to another person, unless the painful truth will be coming from a small child who could not tell a lie or worry about being tactful or mindful of her/his manners.

What causes bad breath? One common cause of bad breath is the drying of the mouth and slowing down of the salivary flow, which occurs when we sleep. Because we don't swallow as much, eat, and drink during our sleep, the mouth dries up and thereby promoting bacterial growth. So the bacteria that survive in the absence of oxygen multiply into colonies. This is the reason why we have morning breath, though in different levels of malodor. In some cases, the reason for bad breath may obviously come from dental cavities, gum disorders, plaque buildup on the teeth, and other inflammatory conditions of the mouth. These are suitable conditions for the bacteria to multiply as they live off unhealthy and dead tissues. Inside the mouth especially on the tongue are millions of other microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, sometimes protozoa, which may cause infection. These bacteria, whether beneficial or not, metabolize proteins for food. As a result of that chemical process, volatile sulfur compounds (vsc) are produced as byproduct. These gaseous sulfur particles smell bad and resemble the smell of rotten egg, which is quite disgusting if coming from the mouth. Other conditions like digestive upsets (including hunger) sinus conditions; postnasal drips and inflammation in the throat or lungs are less obvious sources of trouble but can surely cause oral malodor. Clearing up the source of inflammatory condition may help lessen halitosis. But even chronic diseases such as diabetes, deep abscesses or malignancies and certain medications can contribute to some sort of breath odor as some researchers say.

Certain lifestyles like smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol obviously causes a distinct breath malodor. Both of these habits cause a decrease in saliva production that encourages bacterial growth. And of course certain foods that you eat will definitely leave some odor in the mouth.

I remember a very talented hairdresser I met 6 years ago who had halitosis. No matter how good he was with his craft, each session with him was such an agony because I could smell his breath from an arms- length. He had a persistent smoker's cough and I could really say he needed a strong antibiotic because his halitosis smelled like some upper respiratory tract infection already. Ugh! And no matter how much I loved his technique, I just had to move on and find another hairdresser because his bad breath was killing me.

Some professionals recommend a diet of low fat, low sugar, high fiber foods and lots of colorful veggies. A lack of carbohydrates in the diet forces the body to burn fat. The chemical breakdown of the fat therefore produces acidic ketones which smells bad when exhaled in the breath- so make sure you don't leave out carbohydrates. B vitamins, as well as Vitamin C and zinc in your diet are also good.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping a healthy mouth are very common approach to preventing halitosis. But lots of healthy people with healthy mouths and no underlying medical problems have challenges with breath odor. Where there is no underlying condition, occasional bad breath would only require controlling it on a case-to-case basis. I discovered that yogurt is a natural way to neutralize occasional or situational bad breath because the lactic acid deters growth of more anaerobic bacteria.

Hundreds of commercial products are being advertised to stop bad breath. Just like the beauty industry, breath products formed a multi million-dollar industry as well. But take note that some products available to cure bad breath may be the ones causing bad breath in the first place. I read on the Internet that an ingredient called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) found on most major brands of toothpaste is the foaming ingredient that causes dryness in the mouth creating a perfect breeding place for bacteria. There is nothing wrong with SLS in toothpaste; it is the drying of the mouth that can contribute to the problem. There are some mouthwash formulations that I tried but made me feel my breath smelled worse. The product probably had some sugar in it to achieve the sweet minty taste. I personally do not favor flavored toothpaste because I feel some sort of a lingering after-taste that makes me feel I do not completely have fresh breath after my oral care routine. Yes I say "routine": starting off with a Listerine pre-brushing gargle/wash, thorough flossing, then brushing with a mechanical toothbrush for a min. of 2 minutes using Sensodyne Brightening toothpaste, cleaning the tongue with a tongue scraper and finally an occasional Steri-sol gargle (at night) when my throat does not feel right to prevent further bacterial growth.

If you are trying to control halitosis by masking it off with breath mints and gums, think twice because the sugar in the mints is an excellent source of food for the bad breath bacteria. Mints and chewing gums never worked for me. I would rather brush my teeth 4-5 times a day than rely on mints or gums to give me the confidence that I am not offending anyone with my breath. If you are suffering from halitosis, or just plain conscious about your breath, you may check this site for their products: www.therabreath.com. But most importantly, see your dentist on a regular basis to maintain oral health. Your dentist can help you determine other underlying causes of bad breath. Remember, even your best friend will not tell you that your breath stinks!