Our Social Epidemic Bad Breath

By Richard A. Miller, DDS

National Breath Center®

. https://beathalitosis.com/

More Dental Health Articles

Our Social Epidemic Bad Breath

Do people step back when you get close? Brush their fingers under their nose when you are near? Quietly move a half step sideways or turn their head? Offer you gum or mints? Or, any other social signs that indicate you are not welcome in “their space?” If so, you probably have bad breath, or halitosis.

If this happens to you, forget the gums, mints, toothpastes, and mouthwash. These are all cover-ups, not cures. No matter what they taste like, they only cover-up one bad odor with a stronger one. Even the cure-in-a-bottle internet products are only cover-ups, not the all-day cure you may want to believe.

Since 1993 a complete cure has been available that creates life-long fresh breath that is sustainable for life. It has changed the lives of thousands of the 40 million Americans who are affected by halitosis.

Bad breath is due to the bacteria that inhabit the mouth, particularly those on the tongue, under the gums, and between the teeth. These bacteria form biofilms (coatings) that can only be removed by special mechanical means. By professionally eliminating those bacterial biofilms one can be halitosis-free forever.

Here are the signs and symptoms that can tell you if you have a breath problem

Coating on tongue – whitish, yellowish, or brown

People react to you in close situations like those above

Morning breath

Brushing and flossing do little to reduce the odor

Mouthwashes wear off quickly

Bad taste

Dry mouth, thick saliva

Post nasal drip, allergies

If you want to check yourself, here is the best self-test available. Take a piece of sterile two inches by two inches gauze, available at every pharmacy. Stick your tongue out as far as possible. From the furthest back that you can reach, wipe forward three to four times to get off as much coating as you can.

This coating is what is scientifically called a biofilm. Unique to biofilms is that they can only be removed by mechanical means. Compare the color to the white part of the gauze. Is the gauze discolored?

If you see a color on the gauze, chances are you have bad breath. Be aware, however, that some people cannot smell their own odors due to a phenomenon called adaptation. That is why the color of the gauze itself is an indicator of bad breath.

As you may already know, breath odor smells like “rotten eggs” that comes from hydrogen sulfide in the mouth, and the smell of “dirty socks” is caused by methyl mercaptan, another strong smelling sulfur compound in the breath.

In addition, the same bacteria that cause gum disease produce these sulfur compounds. It is the elimination of the biofilms on the tongue, between the teeth, and under the gums, as well as the neutralization of the odors that is the cure for bad breath.

Since 1993, there has been a total cure for bad breath. By removing the biofilm (coating) you can be bad breath free for the rest of your life.

So, if you have bad breath, there truly is a way to say goodbye to bad breath forever. Why wait? Take action now.