KissMeGoodnight
eRomance Series:
My Breath Stinks:
How to Get Rid of Bad Breath...NOW!
Bad
Breath Statistics
Its reported that between 14 and 25 percent
of Americans and 35 to 45 percent of the entire world's population
have chronic bad breath . . . and you can assume that at least
99% of everyone else has “dragon breath” in the morning.
Estimates of the amount of money spent in the United States
to combat bad breath are staggering: American's, surveys claim,
pay approximately $10 billion every year for breath mints,
mouthwashes and rinses, gum, pills, toothpastes and a myriad
of other products and treatments sold in stores and over the
Internet. The sad thing is that many of these purchased items
are completely ineffective, others just mask the problem they
claim they will resolve, and a few others just make the problem
worse.
An example of a commonly used product that masks bad breath
for a short period and actually contributes to the problem
is an alcohol based mouthwash. The net effect of an
alcohol-based mouthwash on your breath is negative -- the alcohol
is drying
out your mouth and creating a great breeding ground for the
kind of bacteria that contributes most to bad breath. A relatively
new ingredient in some mouthwashes is “chlorine dioxide” or
“stabilized chlorine dioxide.” Reportedly, mouthwashes with
chlorine dioxide or stabilized chlorine dioxide actually attack
that sulfurous, 'rotten egg' smell that oral bacteria leaves
behind and won't dry out your mouth. It sounds like this is
a product that might actually be worth the money spent on it.
Chronic
bad breath: Chronic (persistent) bad breath is most
often caused by poor oral hygiene -- exceptions to this are
breath problems caused by gum disease, certain illnesses, some
medications, a regular diet of foods with a high sulfur content
(e.g., onions, garlic, pastrami, cabbage and others), a low-carbohydrate
diet, regular tobacco use and an excessive alcohol intake.
Halitosis
in adults and children: Halitosis in children is
caused by the same things that cause halitosis in adults: possible
medical conditions, diet or poor oral hygiene. Up to 85% of
the time oral hygiene is not only the source but the key to
the resolution of bad breath.
Most dentists recommend the following good oral hygiene practices
to prevent bad breath and gum disease:
- Brush your teeth (and along your gum line) at least twice
a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Each time you brush, use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper
to clean the top surface of your tongue.
- Use dental floss to remove food particles from between your
teeth at least once a day.
- Use an antiseptic mouthwash after each brushing , swish it
around in your mouth for about 30 seconds before spitting it
out.
- If you wear dentures, take them out at night, brush them and
leave them to soak overnight in a disinfecting solution.
- If you wear removable braces, retainers or partials, take
them out to clean them at the interval recommended by your
dentist.
- Visit your dentist twice a year for a dental checkup and to
have your teeth professionally cleaned.
Morning
breath: Morning breath is simply caused by a lack
of saliva. While we sleep, our bodies shut down most, if not
all, saliva production by the salivary glands. Saliva helps
kill the bacteria in the mouth that causes bad breath, so when
the saliva supply is cut off the bacteria thrives. There are
some “morning breath eliminator” products on the market that
promise to keep working while you sleep so you wake up with
fresh breath -- you'll need to try them to see if they work
for you.
Medical
conditions that cause bad breath: Certain medical
conditions will cause breath odor. The listing of medical conditions
below is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. If you believe
that your breath odor problem is being caused by something
outside of your diet or your oral hygiene habits, see a medical
professional immediately.
- Acidosis
- Appendicitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Sinusitis
- Diabetes
- Esophageal problems
- Gastroesophageal Reflux
- Gingivitis
- Gum disease
- Kidney failure
- Periodontitis
- Pharyngitis
- Postnasal drip
- Stomatitis
- Tooth abscess
- Vincent's disease
- Zenker’s diverticulum
Medications that cause bad breath: Certain prescription medications,
as well as some over-the-counter medications will cause a breath
odor. The following list of medicines is not intended to be
an all inclusive list nor does it suggest that all users of
these medications will exhibit bad breath. Medicines work differently
on each individual.
- Any drugs that reduce salivation
- Antihistamines
- Certain sinus drugs
- Some antidepressants
- Paraldehyde
- Disulfiram
IMPORTANT NOTE: If a prescription medication is causing you
to have a breath problem, DO NOT stop taking the medication
without consulting with your doctor. A breath odor problem
is not life-threatening. If, however, you stop taking a prescribed
medication you may be damaging your health. #
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KissMeGoodnight
: 2006
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