Roy SkillenBeat Bad Breath Naturally
April 23rd 2008 23:53
Do you have friends that lean away or take a step back every time you start a conversation? Have you ever wondered why work colleagues are constantly covering their mouths or buying you the triple extra strong mints as a gift? Have you ever leaned in for a smooch on at the end of that all-important first date only to have the other person make excuses and leave? If you answered yes to all of the above maybe you are one of the millions of people who suffer from halitosis or bad breath.
The majority of us at some point or another have suffered from an horrific case of morning breath, the type that even the kids notice or that the dog cowers away from. But for many people this is a persistent problem and doesn’t disappear with a quick brush, floss and rinse. Halitosis can be a highly embarrassing condition; making sufferers reluctant to seek the medical advice they may need, which in turn can lead to severe bouts of depression. But research is now showing that simple changes in our diet can help in the fight against bad breath.
What Causes Halitosis?
Halitosis can be caused by such things as smoking, drinking to much alcohol or coffee and eating foods with strong flavours such as garlic or curry. There are also many medical problems where bad breath can be an extra unwanted effect such as diabetes, gallbladder dysfunction and lung disease. But extensive new research has found that 90% of all breath problems are caused by the rapid reproduction and spread of certain types of bacteria in the mouth. The excessive growth of these bacteria can be due to a number of things; allergies, sinus congestion or a post-nasal drip, which is when the glands in your nose and throat continually produce mucus, and xerostomia a dry mouth condition, are all guilty of producing bad breath. The bacteria caused by these conditions tend to gather in places that many of us still neglect when brushing such as the tongue and inside the cheeks. This is why dentists are now recommending that you buy toothbrushes that double as a tongue scraper.
Dr Ron Turner says, “Oral hygiene is essential when battling halitosis. You must floss, brush and tongue scrape at least twice a day. Rinsing your mouth with water after eating can also help”
Basic hygiene should combat the majority of cases, but for some people this just isn’t enough. While mints and other breath fresheners may mask your problem they normally only last for about ten minutes, which is why Doctors are now looking at other options for sufferers, especially the role that certain foods can play in helping you fight this problem.
Herbs
Eating fresh herbs and drinking herbal teas can be a great way to mask bad breath issues, not only this but they are also great for the digestion system. Herbs that work particularly well are rosemary, eucalyptus, spearmint, cardamom and parsley.
Yoghurt
Natural yoghurt is a great tool in the battle against bad breath, not only does it provide vitamin D that can cause a reduction of bacteria in the mouth it can also lower the hydrogen sulfide levels in our mouths, which can cause bad odours.
Fruit and Vegetables
“Chewing creates saliva, which is the mouths natural defence against bacteria so eating crunchy foods such as raw veg or apples can certainly help,” says Dr Turner.
The creation of this extra saliva not only helps fight the bacteria but can also wash away any tiny food particles. Vegetables also don’t contain any sugar, which is a major culprit for producing more plaque and tartar to your teeth.
Eat foods that are high in vitamin c. Bacteria and germs are unable to thrive in environments that are hight in vitamin c so their numbers are reduced. Stick to the natural sources of vitamin c such as citrus fruit and berries as vitamin c supplements can cause problems for some people.
If you have tried everything and nothing seems to work for you don’t be embarrassed go and seek medical advice from either your doctor or dentist.
Testing for Halitosis
If you are one of the many people who are unsure if you suffer from halitosis or are just interested in testing the basic hygiene of your mouth, here are two little tests to see how your breath smells right now.
1. Cup your hands and hold them over your nose and mouth. Then breathe slowly out of the mouth and in through the nose.
2. Lick the back of your hand then give it a sniff. The will show you the odour that is radiating from the bacteria that is gathered on your tongue.
The majority of us at some point or another have suffered from an horrific case of morning breath, the type that even the kids notice or that the dog cowers away from. But for many people this is a persistent problem and doesn’t disappear with a quick brush, floss and rinse. Halitosis can be a highly embarrassing condition; making sufferers reluctant to seek the medical advice they may need, which in turn can lead to severe bouts of depression. But research is now showing that simple changes in our diet can help in the fight against bad breath.
What Causes Halitosis?
Halitosis can be caused by such things as smoking, drinking to much alcohol or coffee and eating foods with strong flavours such as garlic or curry. There are also many medical problems where bad breath can be an extra unwanted effect such as diabetes, gallbladder dysfunction and lung disease. But extensive new research has found that 90% of all breath problems are caused by the rapid reproduction and spread of certain types of bacteria in the mouth. The excessive growth of these bacteria can be due to a number of things; allergies, sinus congestion or a post-nasal drip, which is when the glands in your nose and throat continually produce mucus, and xerostomia a dry mouth condition, are all guilty of producing bad breath. The bacteria caused by these conditions tend to gather in places that many of us still neglect when brushing such as the tongue and inside the cheeks. This is why dentists are now recommending that you buy toothbrushes that double as a tongue scraper.
Dr Ron Turner says, “Oral hygiene is essential when battling halitosis. You must floss, brush and tongue scrape at least twice a day. Rinsing your mouth with water after eating can also help”
Basic hygiene should combat the majority of cases, but for some people this just isn’t enough. While mints and other breath fresheners may mask your problem they normally only last for about ten minutes, which is why Doctors are now looking at other options for sufferers, especially the role that certain foods can play in helping you fight this problem.
Herbs
Eating fresh herbs and drinking herbal teas can be a great way to mask bad breath issues, not only this but they are also great for the digestion system. Herbs that work particularly well are rosemary, eucalyptus, spearmint, cardamom and parsley.
Yoghurt
Natural yoghurt is a great tool in the battle against bad breath, not only does it provide vitamin D that can cause a reduction of bacteria in the mouth it can also lower the hydrogen sulfide levels in our mouths, which can cause bad odours.
Fruit and Vegetables
“Chewing creates saliva, which is the mouths natural defence against bacteria so eating crunchy foods such as raw veg or apples can certainly help,” says Dr Turner.
The creation of this extra saliva not only helps fight the bacteria but can also wash away any tiny food particles. Vegetables also don’t contain any sugar, which is a major culprit for producing more plaque and tartar to your teeth.
Eat foods that are high in vitamin c. Bacteria and germs are unable to thrive in environments that are hight in vitamin c so their numbers are reduced. Stick to the natural sources of vitamin c such as citrus fruit and berries as vitamin c supplements can cause problems for some people.
If you have tried everything and nothing seems to work for you don’t be embarrassed go and seek medical advice from either your doctor or dentist.
Testing for Halitosis
If you are one of the many people who are unsure if you suffer from halitosis or are just interested in testing the basic hygiene of your mouth, here are two little tests to see how your breath smells right now.
1. Cup your hands and hold them over your nose and mouth. Then breathe slowly out of the mouth and in through the nose.
2. Lick the back of your hand then give it a sniff. The will show you the odour that is radiating from the bacteria that is gathered on your tongue.
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