Debunking the Myths
As with many things, there are myths and misconceptions associated with halitosis.
1) Halitosis is hereditary. FALSE
Halitosis is not inherited. Your halitosis is yours alone, a result of your genetic make up and lifestyle. For example, the morphology of your tongue is determined in part by your genetic makeup. If you have long papillae or deep fissures in your tongue, it offers more places for bacteria to hide.
It's nearly impossible to reach the mucous and bacteria that are lodged beneath the papillae with brushing and rinses alone, which is why mechanically removing the coating on your tongue with a tongue scraper is recommended by many experts. Scraping may also help force oral rinses deeper into the recesses where bacteria breed.
2) Mouthwashes will get rid of halitosis. FALSE.
Actually, frequent use of most mouthwashes will dry out your mouth, causing xerostomia, a major factor in halitosis. With dry mouth comes increased volitization of gases from anaerobic bacteria. (See "Xerostomia" on page 6.)
Also, as mentioned earlier, many commercial brands of mouthwashes can contain up to 30% alcohol, which can lead to increased chances for oral cancer. Look for oral rinses that contain an antiseptic to kill bacteria and no alcohol. There are dental rinses that contain chlorine dioxide or a combination of stabilized chlorine dioxide, and zinc. These will actually neutralize, rather than mask, odor-causing sulfur compounds, rendering them from volatile sulfites to harmless sulfates, as well as kill anaerobic bacteria.
Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and triclosan are other antibacterial agents that have been used effectively in rinses without alcohol. Essential oils (including eucalyptus) and clove have also been used with some success.
3) Breath mints and gum will control halitosis. FALSE.
Aside from any effect on salivary stimulation, most breath mints and gum, like mouthwashes, are purely temporary. They simply mask the problem rather than treat it. Chewing sugarless gum will promote saliva flow, but persistent overchewing may in time lead to jaw joint (TMJ) problems. Gum chewing can also have the undesirable effect of getting the stomach juices going and grumbling in anticipation of food that never comes.
If using breath mints, be sure to select sugar free ones that contain xylitol (a natural sweetener) or zinc or copper gluconate. Avoid those sweetened with sucrose, glucose, lecithin, or maltodextrin. These sugars can actually promote more harmful bacterial growth.
It's also been noted that the body language of people who regularly pop breath mints and gum suggests insecurity and an obvious desire to hide the presence or possibility of bad breath.
The recommendation is to chew sugarless gum for a few minutes, while taking a break away from others, and then just discard it.
4) Increased brushing will get rid of halitosis. FALSE.
Increased brushing can actually worsen halitosis because it temporarily dries out your mouth, causing xerostomia. It’Äôs believed that sodium lauryl sulphate, found in the majority of toothpastes and responsible for that foaming action, may be the culprit. Plus, overbrushing can wear away your tooth enamel and irritate your gums. (Ever notice those grooves near the base of your teeth? They're generally caused by overbrushing or brushing too hard with a toothbrush that was too stiff. It's actually best to use a softer bristle.)
Another problem is that most people don't brush long enough for the greatest effect, spending only 15 to 20 seconds twice a day. You should spend at least 2 to 3 minutes, enough time to hum your favorite tune or the national anthem.
In truth, brushing and flossing are not always enough in combating halitosis because the majority of times neither can reach the odor-causing bacteria. In fact, many people with halitosis actually practice good overall oral hygiene. Which is why it's best to speak with your dentist about the problem.
5) Eating pungent, spicy foods will cause chronic halitosis. FALSE.
The odors caused by foods such as garlic, onions, spices, and cheeses is temporary. When digested, the oils and compounds in these foods are absorbed into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, before being released through the lungs or pores. Depending on the individual, it may take several days for the compounds to fully leave the body.
However, if you eat these and other spicy foods on a regular and/or frequent basis, thereby constantly releasing compounds into your bloodstream, it is possible to induce a "chronic" state of malodor on your breath and even through your skin.
Dairy foods may exacerbate existing halitosis because it increases or thicken the mucous in the oral cavity, thereby reducing the oxygen level which, in turn, gets the anaerobic bacteria going in releasing their gases. With less overall saliva flow, gases become more volatile. Low tide.
If food particles (pungent or not) in the mouth are not removed by swallowing, saliva, or brushing, they will ferment and release odors. In general, food induced odors are less offensive since they aren't the sulfurous type typically associated with chronic halitosis.
6) Halitosis comes from the stomach. FALSE.
The stomach has muscles that close it and its contents off. Otherwise, everything inside would spill out each time you bent over. The only time you actually smell your stomach, and what's being digested, is when you burp.
However, there are rare medical exceptions when bad odors originate from the stomach. In such cases, seek the advice of your doctor.
7) Halitosis comes from the lungs. FALSE.
Only in rare cases does chronic halitosis originate in the lungs, and usually indicates a serious medical condition.
In general, odors exhaled are due to oils and substances from foods consumed, which were absorbed into the bloodstream during digestion, released into the air sacs in the lungs, then exhaled.
8) Halitosis is contagious. FALSE.
In practice you can't catch halitosis from another person. Your body, in combination with your physical make up and lifestyle, alone generates the problem. And every person has bacteria, both good and bad, in his/her mouth. A mouth without bad breath usually means a healthy balance of bacteria.
However, bacteria are expected to be exchanged orally during, say, French kissing. Therefore, in theory, you may receive a source for halitosis in the form of anaerobic flora via someone else's bodily fluids. But the probability of developing full-blown halitosis from such an encounter is unlikely. Which is not to say that this makes kissing someone with halitosis any more agreeable.
9) Halitosis can be detected by breathing into your hand. FALSE.
Breathing into your hand is an unreliable way to detect halitosis for several reasons. For one, biological adaptation has caused our olfactory (smelling) system to ignore our own familiar odors. Useful in terms of evolutionary survival, because it allows us to detect and determine friend from foe, it falls short in accurately detecting personal halitosis.
Second, your hand may have its own odor, which could be misleading.
Third, you probably won't be exhaling the same way as when you speak. Did you know the air passing over the back of your tongue when you speak carries more odor than when you exhale deeply or even breathe through your nose?
Which means, halitosis, like other flaws, may not be detected until a person opens his/her mouth and speaks...
