This section of our website is dedicated to providing a wealth of information regarding Bad Breath. What causes it, what can we do about it and what products are really going to work. To find out more or order any of our clinically proven BreathRX range simply click here...

 

 

Bad Breath - Do You Have It?

What Causes Bad Breath?

How Do I Resolve the Cause of Bad Breath?

Why BREATHRX Fresh Breath Products?

What Gives Adults Bad Breath?

 

Bad Breath - Do You Have It?

Most people are unaware of the fact that they have bad breath, or “halitosis” as dental professionals refer to it. Actually, one in four people have bad breath and some studies have reported that approximately 50 percent of the adult population does have (1). In fact, it is estimated that nearly 60 million people will suffer from chronic halitosis in the United States.

Certain foods, health conditions and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene.

If simple self-care techniques don't solve the problem, you may want to see your dentist or doctor to rule out a more serious condition that may be causing your bad breath.

What Causes Bad Breath?

What Is It?
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is breath that has an unpleasant odor. This odor can strike periodically or be persistent, depending on the cause. In many people, the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth (particularly on the back of the tongue) are the primary causes of bad breath. The mouth's warm, moist conditions make an ideal environment for these bacteria to grow. Most bad breath is caused by something in the mouth.

Some types of bad breath, such as "morning mouth," are considered to be fairly normal, and they usually are not health concerns. The "morning mouth" type of bad breath occurs because the saliva that regularly washes away decaying food and odors during the daytime diminishes at night while you sleep. Your mouth becomes dry, and dead cells adhere to your tongue and to the inside of your cheeks. Bacteria use these cells for food and expel compounds that have a foul odor.

In addition, bad breath can be caused by the following:

1. Poor dental hygiene — Infrequent or improper brushing and flossing can leave food particles to decay inside the mouth.
2. Infections in the mouth — Periodontal (gum) disease
3. Respiratory tract infections — Throat infections, sinus infections, lung infections
4. External agents — Garlic, onions, coffee, cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco
5. Dry mouth (xerostomia) — This can be caused by salivary gland problems, medications or by "mouth breathing."
6. Systemic illnesses — Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others
7. Psychiatric illness — Some people may perceive that they have bad breath, but it is not noticed by oral-health-care professionals or others. This is referred to as "pseudohalitosis."

Symptoms
A person may not always know that he or she has bad breath. This phenomenon is because odor-detecting cells in the nose eventually become accustomed to the constant flow of bad smells from the mouth. Others may notice and react by recoiling as you speak.

Other associated symptoms depend on the underlying cause of bad breath:

1. Poor dental hygiene — Teeth are coated with film or plaque, food debris trapped between teeth, pale or swollen gums
2. Infections in the mouth — Gums may be red, swollen and bleed easily, especially after brushing or flossing; pus may drain from between teeth; a pocket of pus (abscess) at the base of a tooth; loose teeth or a change in "fit" of a denture; painful, open sores on the tongue or gums
3. Respiratory tract infections — Sore throat, swollen lymph nodes ("swollen glands") in the neck, fever, stuffy nose, a greenish or yellowish nasal discharge, a mucus-producing cough
4. External agents — Cigarette stains on fingers and teeth, a uniform yellow "coffee stain" on teeth
5. Dry mouth — Difficulty swallowing dry foods, difficulty speaking for a prolonged period because of mouth dryness, a burning sensation in the mouth, an unusually high number of dental caries, dry eyes (in Sjögren's syndrome)
6. Systemic (bodywide) illnesses — Symptoms of diabetes, lung disease, kidney failure or liver disease

Diagnosis
A dentist or physician may notice the patient's bad breath while the patient is discussing his or her medical history and symptoms. In some cases, depending on the smell of the patient's breath, the dentist or physician may suspect a likely cause for the problem. For example, "fruity" breath may be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes. A urine-like smell, especially in a person who is at high risk of kidney disease, can sometimes indicate kidney failure.

Your dentist will review your medical history for medical conditions that can cause bad breath and for medications that can cause dry mouth. Your dentist also will ask you about your diet, personal habits (smoking, chewing tobacco) and any symptoms, including when the bad breath was noticed and by whom.

Your dentist will examine your teeth, gums, oral tissues and salivary glands. He or she also will feel your head and neck and will evaluate your breath when you exhale from your nose and from your mouth. Once the physical examination is finished, your dentist may refer you to your family physician if systemic problems are the most likely cause. In severe cases of gum disease, your dentist may recommend that you be seen by a periodontist (dentist who specializes in gum problems).

You will need diagnostic tests if the doctor suspects a lung infection, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease or Sjögren's syndrome. Depending on the suspected illness, these tests may include blood tests, urine tests, X-rays of the chest or sinuses, or other specialized testing.

Expected Duration
How long bad breath lasts depends on its cause. For example, when the problem results from poor dental hygiene, proper dental care will begin to freshen the mouth immediately, with even more impressive results after a few days of regular brushing and flossing. Periodontal disease and tooth abscess also respond quickly to proper dental treatment. Bad breath resulting from chronic sinusitis may be a recurring problem, especially if it is caused by a structural abnormality of the sinuses.

Bad breath the results from a systemic illness may be a long-term problem that can often be controlled with proper medical care.

Prevention
Bad breath caused by dental problems can be prevented easily. Daily maintenance calls for brushing your teeth, tongue and gums after meals, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwashes approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). Regular visits to the dentist (at least twice a year) should be made for dental examinations and for professional teeth and gum cleaning.

Bad breath also can be combated by drinking plenty of water every day to encourage saliva production. An occasional swish of the mouth with water can loosen food particles. Other products that keep breath fresh and prevent plaque from forming include sugar-free gum, sugarless lozenges, raw carrots and celery.

Treatment
The treatment of bad breath depends on its cause.

When To Call A Professional
Call your dentist promptly if you have bad breath with painful, swollen gums that bleed easily or loose teeth. Also, call your doctor if you have bad breath along with a fever, sore throat, a postnasal drip, a discolored nasal discharge or a mucus-producing cough. Even if you have none of these associated symptoms, call your dentist or physician if your bad breath continues despite a good diet and proper dental hygiene.

If you have diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or chronic liver or kidney disease, ask your doctor how bad breath can be a sign that your underlying medical condition needs immediate medical attention.

Prognosis
Once bad breath has been diagnosed, the outlook for fresh breath is usually excellent as long as you stick to your dentist's or physician's treatment plan.

 

 

How Do I Resolve My Bad Breath?

There are many products available on shop shelves these days. Many will not work, despite their claims, so it is important to select a product range that is 'clinically proven' - like BreathRX. However there are many daily 'regimes' or practices that you can undertake to help reduce the causes of bad breath, which contribute to the cause.....

The causes of bad breath are numerous. They include:

 

Food. The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can cause a foul odor. Eating foods containing volatile oils is another source of bad breath. Onions and garlic are the best known examples, but other vegetables and spices also can cause bad breath. After these foods are digested and the pungent oils are absorbed into your bloodstream, they're carried to your lungs and are given off in your breath until the food is eliminated from your body.
Alcohol behaves in the same fashion, allowing the measurement of alcohol levels by breath tests. Alcohol itself has almost no odor, however. The characteristic smell on your breath is mainly the odor of other components of the beverage.

 

Dental problems. Poor dental hygiene and periodontal disease can be a source of bad breath. If you don't brush and floss daily, food particles remain in your mouth, collecting bacteria and emitting hydrogen sulfur vapors. A colorless, sticky film of bacteria (plaque) forms on your teeth.
If not brushed away, plaque can irritate your gums (gingivitis) and cause tooth decay. Eventually, plaque-filled pockets can form between your teeth and gums (periodontitis), worsening this problem — and your breath. Dentures that aren't cleaned regularly or don't fit properly also can harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles. 

Dry mouth. Saliva helps cleanse and moisten your mouth. A dry mouth enables dead cells to accumulate on your tongue, gums and cheeks. These cells then decompose and cause odor. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep. It's what causes "morning breath." Dry mouth is even more of a problem if you sleep with your mouth open. Some medications as well as smoking can lead to a chronic dry mouth, as can a problem with your salivary glands.

 

Diseases. Chronic lung infections and lung abscesses can produce very foul-smelling breath. Several other illnesses can cause a distinctive breath odor. Kidney failure can cause a urine-like odor, and liver failure may cause an odor described as "fishy." People with uncontrolled diabetes often have a fruity breath odor. Chronic reflux of stomach acids from your stomach (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) and a slight protrusion of the stomach into the chest cavity (hiatal hernia) also can produce bad breath.

 

Mouth, nose and throat conditions. Bad breath is also associated with sinus infections because nasal discharge from your sinuses into the back of your throat can cause mouth odor. A child with bad breath may have a foreign object lodged in his or her nose. A bean or small item stuck in the nose can cause persistent nasal discharge and a foul odor. Strep throat, tonsillitis and mononucleosis can cause bad breath until the throat infection clears. Bronchitis and other upper respiratory infections in which you cough up odorous sputum are other sources of bad breath. Canker sores may be related to bad breath, especially if they accompany periodontal disease.

 

Tobacco products. Smoking dries out your mouth and causes its own unpleasant mouth odor. Tobacco users are also more likely to have periodontal disease, an additional source of bad breath.

 

Severe dieting. Dieters may develop unpleasant "fruity" breath from ketoacidosis, the breakdown of chemicals during fasting.

 

When to seek medical advice
Most people can prevent or improve bad breath by practicing proper dental hygiene. If bad breath persists despite self-care, see your dentist. If the cause isn't dental, see your doctor to determine a possible medical cause. You may need a physical examination and testing to pinpoint the underlying cause.

 

Self-care
Try the following steps to improve or prevent bad breath:

 

• Brush your teeth after you eat. Keep a toothbrush at work to brush after eating.

• Floss at least once a day. Proper flossing removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth.

• Brush your tongue. Giving your tongue a good brushing removes dead cells, bacteria and food debris. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush your tongue with at least five to 15 strokes. Pay paticular attention to the middle third of the tongue, where most of the bacteria tend to collect.

• Clean your dentures well. If you wear a bridge or a partial or complete denture, clean it thoroughly at least once a day or as directed by your dentist.

• Drink plenty of water. To keep your mouth moist, be sure to consume plenty of water — not coffee, soft drinks or alcohol. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates saliva, washing away food particles and bacteria. If you have chronic dry mouth, your dentist or doctor may additionally prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or an oral medication that stimulates the flow of saliva.

• Use a fairly new toothbrush. Change your toothbrush every three to four months, and choose a soft-bristled toothbrush.

• Schedule regular dental checkups. At least twice a year, see your dentist to have your teeth or dentures examined and cleaned.

• You can teach your school-age children to brush and floss their teeth regularly and to brush their tongues to prevent bad breath. However, don't give children mouthwash to use, because many mouthwash products contain alcohol and can pose a risk for children if swallowed.

 

 

Why BreathRX Fresh Breath?

BreathRx fresh breath products make fresh breath easy. The simple 3-Step Brush-Scrape-Rinse system takes just minutes and is clinically proven to give you fresher, cleaner breath all day long. Use our Anti Bad Breath Toothpaste, Tongue Scraper, and Antibacterial Mouth Rinse to give you a healthy mouth and fresh breath.

 

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Brushing is the important first step in keeping stubborn VSCs at bay. BreathRx Purifying Anti Bad Breath Toothpaste takes your brushing regimen to the next level, attacking stubborn VSCs with a complex of potent ingredients. BreathRx anti bad breath toothpaste breaks up stores of trapped food particles in the mouth and on the tongue.

BreathRx anti bad breath toothpaste offers the benefits of fluoride protection, advanced whitening, cavity protection with Xylitol and Zytex to beat stubborn VSCs and keep bad breath at bay.

 

Watch your tongue! It's generally the biggest offender when it comes to bad breath. BreathRx Tongue Scraper is important because food particles get trapped in the grooves and fissures of the tongue and become nutrition for the bacteria that produce VSCs. Don't feed 'em... use our Tongue Scraper to scrape 'em away! Daily treatment with BreathRx Tongue Spray and scraping with a BreathRx Gentle Tongue Scraper is your best defense against bacteria on the tongue.

BreathRx tongue spray coats the surface and seeps into the fissures of the tongue to loosen bacteria, keeping your mouth fresh and VSC Free!

 

Use our Tongue Scraper in the morning, after meals and before bed to insure that BreathRx fresh feeling all day.

 

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BreathRx dual-action antibacterial mouth rinse is the final step in the BreathRx 3-Step System. BreathRx alcohol-free antibacterial mouth rinse completes your daily regimen and keeps your breath and mouth feeling fresh.

BreathRx Antibacterial Mouth Rinse does much more than mask the symptoms of bad breath. With ingredients including CPC and Zytex, BreathRx Antibacterial Mouth Rinse attacks bad breath at it's source. Studies show that using BreathRx Antibacterial Mouth Rinse over time actually IMPROVES your breath. No other antibacterial mouth rinse can make this claim!

 

BreathRx Alcohol-Free Antibacterial Mouth Rinse does much more than mask the symptoms of bad breath. With ingredients including CPC and Zytex and a Clean Mint Flavor, BreathRx Antibacterial Mouth Rinse attacks bad breath at the source.

 

 

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What Gives Adults Bad Breath?

 

There are a number of reasons why Adults have bad breath, and not all of them have causes directly related to neglecting their mouths. 

Let us look first at non dental, and non medical reasons for suffering from bad breath. 

The first and most obvious is in the morning, for the simple reason that the teeth weren’t brushed!! 

There are of course all the dietary reasons people have bad breath, and primarily there is eating onions and garlic particularly in their raw state. The reason for this is the oils they contain which are taken into the lungs, and then of course breathing them out is unavoidable. Another cause of bad breath through food could well be after eating a curry, but this of course might be offensive to an English person whilst completely normal to an Indian, so equally the garlic onion combination is probably not noticed in France or Italy as much as in England. 

Another cause of bad breath of course is smoking which lingers on the smoker’s breath. 

Bad breath can be caused by a sinus infection which causes a post nasal drip. When this lands on the tongue it is attacked by the oral bacteria which exists in healthy mouths. The bacteria feed on the discharge and cause smelly breath. Similarly tonsillitis or a throat infection can give people bad breath, and a lack of food, for example when one is dieting and effectively starving will cause bad breath. For a time the Atkin’s Diet, high protein low carbohydrate which caused the followers to go into a condition called ketosis also causes bad breath. 

In fact there are a number of bad breath causes related to medical conditions, so if none of the causes mentioned here are the reason, then it is important to see your doctor. 

Finally we come to dental causes of bad breath which can be caused by food stuck in tooth cavities, dental decay, and it is the sulphur compounds produced by the mouth bacteria that causes halitosis. 

Another dental cause is gum disease, and the presence of large amounts of plaque on the teeth, and again the associated bacteria. There is a disease caused Acute Ulcerative Gingivitis [AUG] which used to be called Vincent’s Disease, and in World War 1, was known as Trench Mouth. This is caused by a lethal mixture of poor oral hygiene, very high stress, and smoking which all combine to reduce the blood supply in the mouth causing parts of the gum to literally die. This halitosis is so bad you would smell the offending person as they entered a room several yards away, in other words possibly the most extreme of examples. 

So what can you do about adult halitosis. There are five easy solutions for halitosis. The first is proper toothbrushing at least twice a day, and the second is taking a toothbrush to work is sensible. Thirdly using a mint flavoured anti plaque and tartar toothpaste, such as Crest Pro Health or Pro Health Night. Fourthly a good tongue scraper, like BreathRX , because a coated tongue is often the source of bad breath, and finally dental floss to remove the ‘hidden’ remains of your last meal. You can also use the clinically proven BreathRX 'anti-bacterial fresh Breath Spay' and the BreathRX Super Starter kit to help keep halitosis at bay.

If this doesn’t work, and it isn’t dietary or smoking, then go and seek the advice of your doctor