All the Facts about Bad Breath. What actually causes Bad Breath?

What is Bad Breath? Halitosis (Bad Breath) has been defined as offensive odors emitted from the mouth. Breath odor, malodor, bad breath, halitosis, bromopnea or fetor ex ore are terms sometimes used to denote an unpleasant, foul, and sometimes offensive breath.

The Latest Scientific Facts about Bad Breath. Bad breath is caused by Anaerobic (oxygen hating) Sulfur Producing Bacteria, which normally live at the bottom surface layer of your tongue, mostly toward the back portion or dorsum of your tongue. These bacteria are normally present in every mouth. They are supposed to be there. They are "helpful bacteria". They help your digestive system by breaking down proteins found in specific foods, blood, mucous or phlegm, and in diseased or desquamated oral tissue.  These bacteria can break down proteins at a very high rate under certain conditions.  Proteins are made up of Amino Acids and two of them (Cysteine and Methionine) are full of sulfur.  Illustration of a large bacterium attracting sulfur containing amino acids. When these "helpful bacteria" start to break down, or digest, these proteins, (Amino Acids of Cysteine and Methionine), the odiferous and "foul-tasting" sulfur compounds they contain are released as Hydrogen Sulfide, Methyl Mercaptan, and other odor producing and "foul-tasting" compounds.     The bacterium is now releasing sulfide odor producing fumes from the VSCs (Volatile Sulfur Compounds) which in return is smelled as Bad Breath These "foul-tasting" and "foul-smelling" compounds are referred to as "Volatile Sulfur Compounds" (VSCs). They are volatile because they are unstable and emit or release strong foul, putrid or fetid odors much like rotten eggs which in turn are perceived as bad breath. These volatile sulfur compounds are actually by-products of the helpful anaerobic bacteria (Fusobacterium and Actinomyces, along with others). Because you have the same "helpful bacteria" in your mouth as everyone else, you cannot catch bad breath from another person. You need each and every one of these bacteria; they are meant to be there. You won't be able to remove them by tongue cleaning, mouth rinses, antibiotic therapy or toothpastes or so called bad breath remedies. The only proven way to eliminate bad breath (halitosis) is to stop the "helpful bacteria" from producing VSCs. It's done by changing the VSCs into a different compound, such as an organic salt, that doesn't give off an odor or bad taste . Even though these "helpful bacteria" are good, there always can be too much of a good thing. People suffering from Bad Breath are found to have an overabundance of these particular bacteria. Scientists have determined the reasons point to genetics, hormonal changes, and a history of medications such as sulfa-type antibiotics that help create a disparity in the number of these bacteria. Three Major Factors that make Bad Breath worse. There are certain foods and health conditions that can make Bad Breath worse. They are: Certain High Protein foods Post Nasal drip Dry mouth We will discuss these in more detail below. Some foods contribute to more sulfur production. 1. These foods are mainly HIGH PROTEIN amino acid type FOODS:

A.)	Milk, Cheese and most other dairy products.    People who are lactose intolerant cannot digest these foods and therefore are allowing these high protein foods to be more readily available to the bacteria for a longer period of time. The bacteria have a feeding frenzy on your tongue and produce VSCs by the bucket full.
B.)	Fish are high in proteins. As many people eat a high fish diet, logically they make the problem worse.
C.)	Coffee with or without caffeine contains high levels of acids. These acids cause the bacteria to reproduce more quickly and create a bitter/foul taste for many people. Many other acidic type foods will do the same.

We're not telling you to stop eating these high protein foods, but remember moderation is the key. If you are lactose intolerant, you are overfeeding those bacteria. Just keep that in mind. Another source of High Protein amino acids is from: 2. POST NASAL DRIP Remember proteins contain amino acids and amino acids contain sulfur compounds. Nasal mucous is loaded with these sulfur containing amino acids. Post nasal drip sufferers know how the nasal mucus drains down the back of their throat and coats it along with the back of their tongue. Again, the "helpful bacteria" living on the back of the tongue and throat have just been handed a gourmet meal and start breaking down these amino acids releasing the VSCs and you have bad breath, not to mention a foul, bad taste in your mouth. Taking strong Antihistamines to prevent the post nasal drip from dripping only leads to a drying effect of the nasal cavity along with possible nasal bleeding, dry mouth, dry eyes, and possible problems if you have glaucoma, asthma, thyroid or certain cardiovascular diseases. 3. DRY MOUTH Most cases of Dry Mouth are not naturally occurring. Dry Mouth is mostly caused by one of these factors; prescription medications antihistamines alcoholic beverages mouthwashes with alcohol in them When your mouth is dry, you have less Saliva. Saliva naturally contains Oxygen. The "helpful bacteria" in your mouth are anaerobic, which means they do not like oxygen. They thrive and produce more sulfur in the presence of little or no oxygen. Therefore if you have less Saliva, you have less oxygen. You are creating the perfect environment for the bacteria to produce more of these odiferous VSCs. Let's review. Scientific research has proven that bad breath is produced from the "helpful bacteria", normally present in your mouth, feeding on sources of sulfur containing amino acids (mostly Cysteine and Methionine), which are gotten from: The high protein foods you eat Post nasal drip sufferers Decrease in Salivary flow The bacteria break down the Amino acids, releasing the sulfur contained inside, and produce VSCs (Volatile Sulfur Compounds), which emit a distinct foul odor perceived as bad breath. Now many of you are probably thinking, I don't eat those high protein foods and I don't have post nasal drip and I don't have a dry mouth. So why do I still have bad breath? The answer lies on the tongue. Even though you don't have a significant problem with any of the 3 contributors above, your body still sheds tissue within your mouth and the bacteria still break down the amino acids within these desquamated tissue cells which contain sulfur and VSCs are still released. Some VSCs rise to the top surface layer of the tongue and help form the white coating, others stay at the very bottom surface of the tongue. Except for the very top surface layer, they are not reachable with a toothbrush, tongue cleaner or ordinary mouthwash. Cross section of your tongue Click Here to view a real coated tongue. Tongue surface covered by a sulfide layer of VSCs. (Volatile Sulfur Compounds) Your tongue is composed of papillae (fingerlike projections of tissue). It's like a thick carpet. At the base of the "carpet" lies the VSCs and bacteria. Brushing and tongue scraping will remove the top surface layer of "dirt" but leaves the bottom base layer. You will never be able to get rid of the base layer of bacteria, so scientific research has been able to solve the problem. Cross section of your tongue Brushing and Tongue Cleaning only removes the very surface layer of VSCs. Scientific research found a way to eliminate Bad Breath. They found a way to neutralize the bacteria and VSCs and turn the Sulfides produced (remember the odors are from Hydrogen sulfides and Methyl Mercaptans), into Sulfates (specifically sulfate salts), which are odor free, thereby eliminating bad breath and bad taste. You will notice your tongue will no longer have an awful yellow-white coating on it. The coating is a layer of sulfides (odiferous), which work their way to the top surface layer of the tongue. If the sulfides are never released, you will not have a coated tongue. Scientists were able to develop a Revolutionary new Anti-Bad Breath Product. They developed Smart Mouth :   Anti-Bad Breath Rinse Proof          Details         Testimonials         Purchase Smart Mouth Click here for all the details about .

Other Causes of Bad Breath

.....Poor Oral Hygiene: In most instances (85% - 90% of patients), malodor originates from the oral cavity (mouth), and mostly as a result of microbial metabolism of local food debris. Food and desquamated skin cell remnants from inside the mouth are not always removed by movements of the mouth and tongue and swallowing. These will start to decay in the mouth causing malodor. Poor oral hygiene and plaque retention on both teeth and oral appliances will give rise to malodor due to putrefaction by uncontrolled growth of gram-negative, anaerobic oral bacteria. The large surface area of the tongue and its papillary structure allow food and debris to be retained on its surface which will support a large microbial population. This white or yellow-white coating of bacteria give rise to malodor mostly by the production of Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) such as hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. The anaerobic bacteria produce these quickly evaporating VSCs which are expelled in the expired air giving the distinctive odor of bad breath. As the coating on the tongue increases so does the VSCs and in turn the malodor becomes worse. Removal of the tongue coating greatly reduces the VSCs, but will never totally get rid of the problem. Use of Smart Mouth along with a tongue cleaner  will eliminate the coating on your tongue. The bacterial flora on the tongue is similar to the odor producing bacteria of gum disease (periodontal disease) and in patients with periodontal disease, the tongue coating is greatly increased.

.....Periodontal (gum) Disease: Poor oral hygiene resulting in gum disease can definitely lead to bad breath. Examples of oral conditions that are associated with bad breath include: 1. Large numbers of bacteria that combine with food debris retained in hard to reach areas of the teeth, restorations, and on the tongue. 2. Periodontal (gum) disease 3. Tooth decay (caries) 4. Endodontic (inside the tooth) and periodontal (around the tooth) abscesses. 5. Extensive dental restorations, including large amalgams, composite resins, crowns, bridges and complete or partial dentures along with poor oral hygiene.

.....Food, habit and drug causes: listed below

Foods such as... onions, garlic, durian and other spicy foods can cause oral malodor that lasts up to 72 hours after ingestion. These foods are absorbed by the intestine, metabolized in the liver, released into the bloodstream, and excreted through the lungs and other routes, hence the odor of these foods coming from the mouth. If your malodor smells like the ingested food, you can be confident the food is the source of the malodor. Usually the malodor will disappear once the food has left the stomach into the intestine. Certain foods will greatly contribute to an increase in VSCs resulting in bad breath. See 3 Major factors that make bad breath worse above.

Prescription Medications such as dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) disulphiram amyl nitrite isosorbide dinitrate cytoxic drugs alcohol chloral hydrate iodine containing drugs Malodor can occur after taking these drugs. If the malodor disappears after 2-3 hours from the time you took the drug, you can be fairly sure it is caused by that drug. Xerostomia (Dry Mouth) Medicinal Prescription drugs can induce dryness of the mouth (xerostomia- decrease salivary flow) as well as xerostomia induced by radiation therapy. If a dry mouth is caused by medication, a discussion with your physician concerning alternative drugs may be beneficial. In some cases, the dryness cannot be changed physiologically. People should be aware of medicinal caused dryness of the mouth which can lead to not only oral malodor but decay along the necks of their teeth. Saliva is not only a wetting agent, but functions to keep bacterial populations in balance by suppressing pathogens over the normal bacterial flora. Below is a list of some diseases that can cause loss of salivary flow and xerostomia. Local salivary gland disease Rheumatoid arthritis Autoimmune diseas such as Sjogren's syndrome Systemic Lupus erythematosus Scleroderma Diabetes Hepatitis Vitamin Deficiencies Menopause Chemotherapy Emotional Disturbances Below you will find a list of many medications that can cause loss of salivary flow and xerostomia. Antihystamines Anxiolytics Antidepressants Antihypertensives Antipsychotics Anticholinergics Diuretics Narcotics Age can contribute to decrease in Salivary flow. Usually the first sign is lack of eye lubrication which can occur naturally as early as age 50. Within a few years after noticing a lack of eye lubrication, people start noticing the lack of salivary flow. With the loss of saliva, the oral bacterial flora can change toward more gram-negative bacteria responsible for malodor. Any drying of the mouth will lead to an increase in VSCs which in turn produces bad breath. See 3 Major factors that make bad breath worse above. Alcohol and abuse of it can cause a distinct malodor. Tobacco smoking exhibits a characteristic oral malodor partly due to VSCs. The Hunger state contributes to the creation of foul breath odors caused by pulmonary excretion of metabolic breakdown of fats and proteins. Reduced salivary flow and an increase in oral alkalinity during sleep contribute to malodor. Bad breath in the morning because of a reduction in salivary flow during the night is linked to the increase in VSCs (volatile sulfur compounds) while sleeping. Mouth breathing can cause a drying of the mouth leading to oral malodor and VSCs.

.....Respiratory causes: Neoplasms anywhere along the respiratory tract can cause bad breath. Pneumonia, bronchiectasis and bronchitis have been reported to cause foul odor in expired air. Oropharyngeal candidiasis caused by local and/or systemic factors can be associated frequently with malodor usually caused by chronic use of inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatic patients which leads to a change in the respiratory tract bacterial flora. Candidiasis can also be found in people receiving chronic steroid therapy or broad-spectrum antibiotics as well as people diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, xerostomia or are immunocompromised, immunosuppressed or have a debilitating disease.

.....Gastrointestinal causes: Frequent symptoms of heartburn, stomach gas or spontaneous laryngitis may be from gastric distress which could cause oral malodor. Stomach pain could mean a stomach ulcer. Sometimes stomach distress does not show up as stomach pain or heartburn. Some people have a weak or inadequate esophageal closure and develop esophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, or pyloric stenosis and their only sypmptoms are noninfectious laryngitis, or raspy throat and often malodor. There are more serious conditions of gastric diseases that can cause malodor, such as: Malabsorption syndromes Gastric carcinomas Enteric infections and ulcers If you have any of the above symptoms, consult a physician.

.....Tonsillary causes: Tonsillary crypts (deep grooves and convolusions of the tonsils) can develop concretions known as tonsilloliths (yellowish-white sacs) which loosen and fall to the tongue's surface. These soft stones are usually several millimeters in diameter, yellowish or white in color with rough edges. They usually have a foul odor, especially when pressed, but are generally not a major source of bad breath. Although uncommon, persistent nasal and pharyngeal malodors can be caused by encrypted food in the throat or around the lingual and pharyngeal tonsils. These may need to be diagnosed by an ENT (Ear, Nose Throat Doctor) or an Oral Surgeon with special mirrors or oral video cameras to determine any possible anatomical defect such as, pouches or diverticulum, chronic follicular tonsillitis that can cause food entrapment.

.....Denture causes: Denture odor can readily be detected by placing the dentures in a plastic bag for several minutes then open and smell.

.....Imaginary and delusional causes: Some healthy individuals complain of halitosis, yet it cannot be detected by others (halitophobia). They strongly insist they have bad breath but no one can smell it. Some persons seriously imagine that the halitosis on themselves is so bad they become depressed and the belief can become so profound as to dominate their lives. This delusional halitosis is often a psychosis wher the person has an olfactory delusion that they emit a foul smell from the mouth. Olfactory hallucinations can also occur in people with schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, or organic brain diseases.