Teeth Whitening & Oral Health Blog

There is nothing more embarrassing than having someone back away from you as you start talking to them, and you realize it is because your breath smells. The chewing gum industry makes a lot of profit based on people wanting to sweeten their breath.  However, too often, chewing gum and sucking mints will actually worsen your breath in the long run, as the sugar in these products hastens teeth decay, a major cause of bad breath.

Bad Breath: Causes & Symptoms

Bad breath, or halitosis as it is properly known, can be the result of a temporary situation, such as eating certain foods, or a sign of a more significant health problem. Certain illnesses have bad breath as a secondary symptom such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and pneumonia, but they share a common denominator; bacteria in the mouth, throat or nasal passages. Halitosis is caused by sulphur compounds, waste products created by the bacteria in our mouths. These compounds are highly volatile, which means they evaporate rapidly and cause an unpleasant smell.  Any form of gum disease, gingivitis or periodontal disease will have bad breath as a symptom. Lack of oral hygiene is the chief cause of bad breath. Brushing teeth alone does not remove the bacteria in a persons’ mouth. Bacteria live well at the back of the tongue; a place often missed by toothbrushes. Plaque builds up in the mouth, and even a thin layer can be an oxygen-starved environment in which bacteria can thrive. These anaerobic (non oxygen requiring) bacteria flourish and grow; with that growth comes the excretion of waste and this waste smells! A chronically dry mouth, known as xerostomia, increases the chance of bad breath as saliva is a natural mouth cleanser, washing away bacteria and waste products. Periodontal disease and gum disease are also associated with halitosis as the bacteria have endless places to lurk in a mouth where gums are decaying and pulling away from teeth.

Bad Breath: Treatments

There are a number of remedies for bad breath; some are less scientific than others. Whiter Smile – Bad Breath stocks a comprehensive range of products to treat bad breath. If the bad breath is caused by eating foods such as onions and garlic, rest assured, the enzymes in the stomach will eventually break down and utilize all the offending molecules and the smell will go. The only remedy is time, avoidance of these foods or tolerance of the smell! Non medical suggestions are, eating parsley or cheese after garlic. The best approach to bad breath is preventing it, with good oral hygiene. However, if the bacteria are present in your mouth, you need to act fast to neutralise them. As part of your new, smart, oral hygiene routine, you will have to tackle the areas of the mouth harbouring the bacteria. In addition, the balance of good versus bad bacteria in the mouth needs to be addressed, the bad needs to be neutralised and the good bacteria increased. This is possible with two compounds; one treatment, OXYD-8TM, to oxygenate the mouth, thus preventing the anaerobic bacteria from producing odorous sulfur compounds; the second treatment contains Aktiv-K12 a probiotic which adds good bacteria to the mouth. Getting rid of halitosis requires several steps; the tongue must be thoroughly cleaned, especially at the back; the teeth need to be brushed to the gum line; gums need to be treated with the appropriate rinse; if possible some rinsing agent should be swallowed to clean the throat; and to help throughout the day, when brushing is not possible, lozenges or gum can be used if they are of the right type. A complete regime for banishing bad breath can be found in the “TheraBreath Advanced Aktiv-K12 ProBiotics Kit“. Bad breath is a sign of an unhealthy mouth, not just something to be embarrassed about socially; it must be treated and once treated, prevented from further recurring.

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The exact reasons that bad breath may occur can vary. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly which cause is creating every individual’s problem. The clinical term for bad breath is halitosis, which is an oral disease that is more common and widespread than you may think.

To find out if you have halitosis, there is a very simple test. Just lick the back of your hand and wait a few seconds for the saliva to dry. Once you have done this, smell the back of your hand. If there is a bad smell, you may have halitosis.

The presence of bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue is the main cause of bad breath. This oral bacteria’s growth is due in part to remnants of food left in the mouth. This can cause a buildup of tartar and plaque. Gum disease left untreated can also contribute to bad breath. Certain foods containing volatile sulfur compounds, such as onions and garlic, can also create sour odors in the mouth, as well as consumption of alcohol, coffee and dairy products.

Using tobacco products can also be a factor of bad breath, as well as other oral diseases. Gum irritation, loss of taste and tooth discoloration may result from tobacco usage. Periodontal disease, another possible effect from tobacco, can cause severe bad breath as well as irritation.

Most people associate bad breath with diet, however medication can be a precipitator as well. Various antidepressants such as aspirin and diuretics can have a common side effect of dry mouth, or xerostomia. Saliva is a natural mouthwash that our body needs in order to reduce oral bacteria. When dry mouth occurs, the production of saliva is reduced, which in turn causes more bacteria to grow. The saliva ducts also lessen production during sleep, which is why most people wake up with “morning breath”.

Another possible cause of halitosis is related to health problems. Common ailments such as bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, kidney disorders, liver malfunctioning and respiratory tract infections can all be causes of bad breath.

Luckily, everyone who suffers from halitosis has options. Whiter Smile has a selection of bad breath treatments available through our online shopping facility to treat bad breath including a  range of products bo Therabreath  and BreathRX.