Treatment & Prevention
Which leads us into determining whether or not you have halitosis, and how to treat it if you do.
1) Ask someone who will tell you truthfully if you have bad breath, such as a spouse or really close friend. In fact, it's not uncommon for even the closest acquaintance to remain silent about your bad breath. Studies show it can be difficult for an individual to determine the degree of his/her own breath odor.
The better approach would be to ask your dentist or dental hygienist. As oral health professionals, they should not only feel less awkward discussing the topic openly and honestly, they will also be in a position to make a reasonable assessment, as well as offer treatment options.
2) Watch if people tend to step back or turn their heads slightly when you speak. Or if people seem reluctant to kiss you. Really. Body language can speak volumes.
3) Stick out your tongue as far as you can, like in the morning, to see the back. If it has a thick white covering, it may indicate you have bad breath.
4) When you floss your teeth, if you notice a foul taste or odor, this may be an indication of halitosis or periodontal gum) disease.
It's worth noting that research indicates we are not always our own best judges when it comes to self examination.
However, if you're ever in a situation where you need to quickly evaluate your breath on your own, here are a few things to try:
a) Stick out your tongue and hold it with a corner of a clean unscented white cloth. Using another corner of the cloth (or another washcloth, entirely) wipe the upper surface of your tongue as far back as you can several times. Wait about 30-45 seconds and smell.
b) Lick your wrist (if it's clean) -- not your palm -- about 5 seconds. Wait for it to dry, then smell. While you won't be able to use the back portion of your tongue where the majority of odors reside, this will still offer a quick indication of your breath.
c) Rub along your gums, especially if oral hygiene is not your forte. Then smell.
So, once you know the causes for halitosis, what's the incentive to seek a cure? There are the immediate social advantages, including greater confidence and improved self-esteem, as well as the proverbial "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
However, there are also important medical reasons for treating halitosis and practicing good oral hygiene.
Studies have shown there is strong link between oral health and other illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. As reported in USA Weekend, October 2003, "Toxins from gum disease produce chemical reactions that impair the function of the pancreas, directly aggravating diabetes.
"And it hits your heart. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine in May 2004 evaluated the relationship between gum disease and C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker associated with hardening of the arteries."
According to the report, of the 5,000 healthy middle-aged adults from four cities who received oral exams in the study, "those with the most periodontal disease also had higher levels of C-reactive protein."
An article in The Chicago Tribune, February 1998, reported greater evidence of the correlation between oral and coronary health, stating that oral bacteria can trigger blood-clotting and inflame arteries. In a study on rabbits by the University of Minnesota, microbes in dental plaque induced blood clotting similar to that in heart attacks.
February 2004 issues of "Science Times" in The New York Times and Time presented even further research on how poor oral health can be an indicator of heart disease.
According to a 1998 ADA/Colgate Oral health Trend Survey, "42% of dentists say that periodontal disease is the most pressing oral health issue."
Needless to say, the bacteria found on your tongue, teeth, gums, and other oral tissue, can have a detrimental effect on your body in more ways than one. Control the bacteria and you can help control your overall health.
The good news is that a majority of preventive means can be practiced easily at home, work, or school on a daily basis, and don't involve a drastic change in lifestyle.
1) Keep your mouth moist.
- Drink plenty of fluids! Experts recommend 8 8-oz glasses a day, if possible, for maintaining healthy body functions. Remember, however, that certain beverages such as soda, alcohol, and coffee may have unwanted side-effects.
The best thing is to drink water; it's the natural way to clean your breath. You can even add some lemon or mint for flavoring.
- Select sugarless gum. Chewing will stimulate saliva flow, but chew only for a few minutes. Sugarless breath mints will also work on a short term basis. Avoid breath fresheners that contain sugar. And use them discreetly.
- Stimulate the salivary glands under your tongue. Try rolling your tongue around in your mouth and breathing quickly through your mouth to help, literally, get the juices going.
- Breathe through your nose rather than through your mouth. Whether you're sleeping or awake, this practice will have a less drying effect, minimizing xerostomia.
2) You are what you eat.
- Eat regularly. Dieters often experience halitosis, due to dehydration. A good breakfast will help stimulate saliva flow after decreased production during sleeping hours.
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods such as carrots, peppers, and celery contain a lot of fiber. Chewing stimulates saliva flow and the fiber helps remove plaque. Dark green vegetables are also believed to remove toxins and freshen breath.
- Maintain a healthy diet. Your diet should include a balance of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C and Zinc. Zinc compounds help neutralize sulfur compounds, when added to oral rinses or dentifrices.
- Chew on herbs. Fresh parsley sprigs are an age-old remedy for freshening breath naturally. Try also mint, dill, and basil.
- Avoid spicy, pungent foods containing garlic and onions if you're concerned about immediate effects. Essential oils from these foods can stay in your system and on your breath for 24-48 hours, regardless of how much you may brush or rinse.
- Avoid dairy products. These foods, including cheeses, milk, and yogurt, can enhance bad breath by inducing greater mucous production. Remember, odor-generating anaerobic bacteria thrive in that oxygen-free environment under that mucous coating covering your tongue.
- Avoid strong smelling fish and spicy deli meats. These too have oils that can linger in your mouth and in your system. In fact, all high-protein foods like meats and cheeses contain sulfurous compounds that are released when broken down by bacteria.
- Don't smoke. Period.
3) Manual labor doesn't have to be hard.
- Practice good oral hygiene. Brush and floss at least twice a day, preferably after every meal, if possible. (Don't forget to clean behind the last teeth.) Flossing reaches one third more of your tooth's surface than mere brushing alone. It also helps you detect problem areas by sight and smell and tends to cleanse the areas of your mouth with the most bacterial deposits.
- Use a toothpaste with stabilized chlorine dioxide. Chlorine dioxide can kill anaerobic bacteria, neutralize VSCs, and make brushing or scraping of the tongue particularly effective in controlling halitosis.
- Carry a toothbrush. A quick trip to the bathroom after a meal can remove food particles and avoid plaque build up. If you don't have one, go to the washroom to rinse and spit. Otherwise, just swish some water around in your mouth and swallow. But do it discreetly. Remember, anything here is better than nothing.
- Brush your tongue. Better yet, use a tongue scraper, in addition to brushing and rinsing to help remove bacteria and plaque. A tongue scraper is better designed than a toothbrush for gently removing bacteria and film from the surface of the tongue, especially in the region near the back of the mouth. Plus, it seems to better control the resulting gag reflex. Tongue scrapers may not be sexy or colorful, but they're effective and cheap.
- Clean dentures and bridges thoroughly. In addition to brushing your prostheses carefully, speak to your dentist about what solutions are best for soaking them in overnight.
- Use non-alcohol-based mouthwashes. We recommend those containing chlorine dioxide or a stabilized form of chlorine dioxide combined with zinc as a safe alternative to alcohol, which studies have shown to increase the likelihood of oral cancer. The latter reacts chemically when it encounters the acid in your mouth to neutralize odors, and may taste more pleasant. The former tastes more like pool water because any other introduced flavored substance would react with the solution and render it less effective.
Ask your dentist for advice on which methods or products would best suit your particular needs.
Less plaque = less bacteria = less halitosis.
4) Leave it to the professionals.
- Visit your dentist regularly, at least twice a year, for check ups, cleanings, and screenings. Perhaps this is the best approach since no one else is better qualified to help you identify and treat halitosis.
In conclusion, fresh breath is the sign of a healthy mouth. It does require discipline and active participation. But in the end, your body -- and those around you -- will thank you.
