A common question people ask is whether bad breath is curable and/or preventable. Some people believe that bad breath is only preventable by changing their oral hygiene habits. Others believe that bad breath can be cured from returning. Both groups are right, and both groups are wrong…
Is it a matter of language?
The words "cure" and "prevent" are commonly interchanged when describing bad breath remedies; however, the premise remains the same. Bad breath is both curable and preventable. People’s interpretations of language vary, and some people consider the words similar; others consider them drastically different. Regardless of your perception of either word, this is not a lesson about language and semantics. Allow me to explain…
Treating bad breath requires eliminating your current problem and preventing it from returning. However, there is no one-time cure for bad breath; it is a matter of changing your oral hygiene habits and using the correct oral hygiene products.
Bad breath is curable, because once you adopt an effective bad breath prevention regimen, your bad breath problem will disappear. Bad breath is also preventable, because your bad breath problem will not return if you continue applying your regimen.
Who is susceptible to bad breath?
Some bad breath sufferers assume that they are more susceptible to bad breath than other people. They feel so helpless, that they convince themselves that their problem is incurable.
Honestly, most people are equally susceptible to bad breath. Everyone has bacteria in their mouth that produce bad breath.
While certain physical characteristics can complicate bad breath (such as the texture of your tongue), bad breath is not hereditary, incurable or unpreventable for any person. True halitosis exists when a person produces a foul odor from their oral or nasal regions.
Halitosis sufferers seem unable to eliminate the smell – even by using normal oral hygiene techniques, recommended by their dentists. The occasional "morning breath" most people experience is not really true halitosis, but it can be just as disastrous and it should be treated similarly. If you suffer from bad breath, you know how much it negatively impacts your life. It may make you feel too embarrassed to socially interact or even mention your problem to your physician or doctor.
You can dress perfectly for an important interview or upcoming occasion. Maybe you select a special outfit and/or gift - or you just plan something special for the occasion. You take a shower and follow your typical routine – including brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash.
Maybe you carry breath mints, just as a precaution, to take just before such an occasion - but what if it is a surprise? What if your boss calls you into his or her office unexpectedly?
What if… unfortunately… you are not even slightly aware of your problem? This situation can ruin any impression you are trying to cast, or special event you are trying to share!
A person can attend an interview or meeting dressed to kill, or a formal dinner dressed like a model; however, if this offensive smell permeates the air… it takes over!
Remember, you can cure and prevent bad breath!
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Discover the 8 Worst Bad Breath Remedies!
"How NOT To Treat Bad Breath: The Worst Remedies For Bad Breath!"
1. Mouthwash: Use this at your peril! The majority of mouthwashes contain very high levels of alcohol which actually WORSENS bad breath!
2. Breath mints and sprays: A pleasing smelling mouth doesn't nesessarily mean that you have a healthy mouth. Mints and spray temporarily mask your bad breath, but provide a veritable feast for bad bacteria that will significantly worsen the probelm.
3. Chewing gum: Chewing gum does increase salivary juice flow, but only masks bad breath. Try drinking water throughout the day instead, which keeps you in good health as well.
4. Chewing tobacco: Smokeless tobacco is a health hazard and causes gums to dissolve and increases the chance of losing the material that hold your teeth firmly in your mouth, and, worst of alll, causes oral cancer. Avoid at all costs.
5. Vodka, martinis, or whiskey: Alcohol is a drying agent, and will further increase the problem by making your mouth too dry (which results in accelerated growth of bad bacteria).
6. Brushing with cleanser: Unbelievable as it sounds, many people have tried to brush their teeth with household detergents, bleach, and other cleaning products! They "reason" that, if those things do such a good job cleaning their house, maybe they'll do a good job cleaning their teeth as well. However, many of these products are poisonous and, in some instances, fatal. They should never (ever) be put in your mouth!
7. Intestinal cleansing methods: Bad breath doesn't originate in the stomach or intestine. It originates in your mouth. Internal cleanses might be good for overall health, but don't expect them to eliminate your bad breath.
8. Tongue piercing: As with any wound on your body, tongue piercing creates an entry-point for bacteria, and that has the potential to worsen your problem considerably! If you think "ordinary" bad breath is bad, imagine what it will be like if you have a smelly infection in your tongue as well!
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
A Sugar That Stops Tooth Decay
It's a most unlikely weapon in the battle against tooth decay: Tests have shown that a fruit-flavored sugary syrup - made from a natural sweetner called Xylitol - can protect teeth against corrosion.
Xylitol comes from the silver birch tree and is used in many products such as chewing-gum. Studies have shown it reduces levels of a harmful bacteria called streptococcus mutans.
Researchers at theUniversity of Washington
Presented at the International Association for Dental Research conference inToronto
Xylitol comes from the silver birch tree and is used in many products such as chewing-gum. Studies have shown it reduces levels of a harmful bacteria called streptococcus mutans.
Researchers at the
Presented at the International Association for Dental Research conference in
Monday, 25 October 2010
Use Gum Stimulators For A More Healthy Smile
Most people think that simply brushing their teeth is enough to retain fresh breath, and make positive impressions on others. We have all gone through it, and/or seen others go through it: brushing teeth before an interview, using breath spray like it is hair spray, chewing gum, etc.
Is all that enough?
Obviously not! Why else would women escape to the bathroom all the time? Now granted, some women do use the bathrooms as a discussion area, but there is much more to it than that. Why do companies spend millions promoting gums, mints, and sprays? If you only brush your teeth in the morning, you are doing yourself a tremendous disservice. Even if you brush your teeth before bed, you almost always wake up with an unpleasant or outright nasty odor in your mouth.
The suggestions I outline below will help you fight bad breath and increase the attractiveness of your smile and the health of your teeth. After completely brushing your teeth, floss them. Many people ignore or skip this step, which is a mistake. Some people are comfortable using the typical string-like floss.
Unfortunately, you inevitably miss a few teeth and the process requires some fairly tight hand maneuvers. If you are comfortable with this method, stick to it!
Otherwise, I recommend the suggestion below: Most stores offer gum stimulators in their 'Health & Beauty' sections. They basically look like small sticks with teardrops on the end of them. Similar to flossing, you just insert the tip of the "teardrop" between your teeth, push it up until it is snug with your gums, and then bring it back down. It will stimulate your gums and remove excess tartar that gets deposited in those regions. Besides helping you with your bad breath battle, it will make your next dental visit less painful.
After flossing, you absolutely MUST rinse out your mouth to flush tarter and kill bacteria that are lingering in your mouth. Do this for at least 90 seconds, so you get the maximum benefit. Make sure that you use a mouthwash that does not contain drying agents.
The Bad Breath Report offers advice on how to create a super-powerful mouthwash using two household ingredients. These steps will not solve your problem permanently. However, if you incorporate them into your morning and evening routines, much of the problem will dissipate, and become more manageable.
Is all that enough?
Obviously not! Why else would women escape to the bathroom all the time? Now granted, some women do use the bathrooms as a discussion area, but there is much more to it than that. Why do companies spend millions promoting gums, mints, and sprays? If you only brush your teeth in the morning, you are doing yourself a tremendous disservice. Even if you brush your teeth before bed, you almost always wake up with an unpleasant or outright nasty odor in your mouth.
The suggestions I outline below will help you fight bad breath and increase the attractiveness of your smile and the health of your teeth. After completely brushing your teeth, floss them. Many people ignore or skip this step, which is a mistake. Some people are comfortable using the typical string-like floss.
Unfortunately, you inevitably miss a few teeth and the process requires some fairly tight hand maneuvers. If you are comfortable with this method, stick to it!
Otherwise, I recommend the suggestion below: Most stores offer gum stimulators in their 'Health & Beauty' sections. They basically look like small sticks with teardrops on the end of them. Similar to flossing, you just insert the tip of the "teardrop" between your teeth, push it up until it is snug with your gums, and then bring it back down. It will stimulate your gums and remove excess tartar that gets deposited in those regions. Besides helping you with your bad breath battle, it will make your next dental visit less painful.
After flossing, you absolutely MUST rinse out your mouth to flush tarter and kill bacteria that are lingering in your mouth. Do this for at least 90 seconds, so you get the maximum benefit. Make sure that you use a mouthwash that does not contain drying agents.
The Bad Breath Report offers advice on how to create a super-powerful mouthwash using two household ingredients. These steps will not solve your problem permanently. However, if you incorporate them into your morning and evening routines, much of the problem will dissipate, and become more manageable.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
An Astonishing New Device That Completely Re-Grows New Teeth In Less Than 4 Months!
If you’ve read The Bad Breath Report, you already know that a dramatic series of recent genetic engineering breakthroughs have allowed scientists to completely regenerate lost teeth in animals and will be ready for human use within a few years.
In the meanwhile, however, those who have lost teeth can take heart that a team of researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada have developed an astonishing non-invasive nanotechnology that will re-grow teeth in less than 4-months.
They filed patents for a tiny wireless ultrasonic device -- dubbed LIPUS, for Low-Intensity Pulsed UltraSound -- in 2006.
Smaller than a pea, it gently massages gums and stimulates tooth growth when mounted on braces or a temporary plastic crown in a patient’s mouth. It is activated for 20 minutes a day, over a period of 4-months.
The device was designed by Dr. Jie Chen, a nano-biotechnologist at the University’s Engineering Department, and is based on research carried-out by Dr. Tarek El-Bialy, an Egyptian-born orthodontist, in the late 1990s.
In a study, published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Dr. El-Bialy used ultrasound on a rabbit that had undergone surgery on its jaw. He was surprised to find that, as well as re-generating its jaw-bone, the rabbit’s teeth also started to re-grow. He presented similar results for human patients at the World Federation of Orthodontics inParis
The original ultrasonic devices were very big and, thus, very uncomfortable for patients to hold in their mouth for 20 minutes at a time.
However, when he moved to theUniversity of Alberta
According to Dr. Chen, as well as fixing broken teeth, LIPUS may also be used to correct a crooked smile, and may, eventually, allow people to grow taller by stimulating bone growth.
It has been approved by both Canadian and American regulatory bodies and a market-ready model is currently being prepared. LIPUS is expected to be commercially available before the end of 2011.
In the meanwhile, however, those who have lost teeth can take heart that a team of researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada have developed an astonishing non-invasive nanotechnology that will re-grow teeth in less than 4-months.
They filed patents for a tiny wireless ultrasonic device -- dubbed LIPUS, for Low-Intensity Pulsed UltraSound -- in 2006.
Smaller than a pea, it gently massages gums and stimulates tooth growth when mounted on braces or a temporary plastic crown in a patient’s mouth. It is activated for 20 minutes a day, over a period of 4-months.
The device was designed by Dr. Jie Chen, a nano-biotechnologist at the University’s Engineering Department, and is based on research carried-out by Dr. Tarek El-Bialy, an Egyptian-born orthodontist, in the late 1990s.
In a study, published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Dr. El-Bialy used ultrasound on a rabbit that had undergone surgery on its jaw. He was surprised to find that, as well as re-generating its jaw-bone, the rabbit’s teeth also started to re-grow. He presented similar results for human patients at the World Federation of Orthodontics in
The original ultrasonic devices were very big and, thus, very uncomfortable for patients to hold in their mouth for 20 minutes at a time.
However, when he moved to the
According to Dr. Chen, as well as fixing broken teeth, LIPUS may also be used to correct a crooked smile, and may, eventually, allow people to grow taller by stimulating bone growth.
It has been approved by both Canadian and American regulatory bodies and a market-ready model is currently being prepared. LIPUS is expected to be commercially available before the end of 2011.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Bad Breath Myths
"The Top 5 Myths About Bad Breath"
Myth 1: Bad Breath Is Caused By Poor Hygiene.
Depending on whose figures you accept, bad breath is a problem that affects as much as 90% of the population, to some extent. However, despite common beliefs, in most cases, it is not caused by poor oral hygiene. A very small percentage of cases may be, but the overwhelming majority aren't.It's the most common myth out there about the problem. However, most people who suffer from bad breath actually have excellent hygiene practices bacause, based on that misunderstanding, the worse their problem gets, the more they brush and scrub and gargle and floss to try to get rid of it. It's a futile effort though (and, in some cases, can actually make the problem worse, as many toothpastes and mouthwashes have ingredients that actually make bad breath more pronounced in the long term!).
Myth 2: Treating Bad Breath Requires Expensive Products.
While most of the only cover up and mask the problem, there are a number of extremely effective products on the market that really do tackle the fundamental causes of bad breath. However, they are extremely expensive. Some of them cost as much as $100.00 a month, effectively forever! If you can afford that, great but most of them actually contain the same (or similar) ingredients as the highly-effective home remedy described in The Bad Breath Report (and you can usually get them at your local supermarket for pennies!)Myth 3: Bad Breath Can't Be Cured – Only Masked.
Temporarily masking your bad breath with mints and sprays can significantly worsen your problem. Their ingredients create a hospitable environment for bacteria to thrive in your mouth, which is the exact opposite of what you must do to really solve the problem. By using products like these to deal with the symptoms of bad breath, you'll only make things worse. You need to address the causes of bad breath instead.Myth 4: Bad Breath Originates In The Stomach.
Years ago, there was much hype about pills that claimed to cure bad breath in your stomach. However, the makers of those pills were practically obliterated by legal action by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for making false claims. In short, it's completely untrue: While there are some relatively rare medical conditions that do produce bad odors from the stomach, the cause of most cases of bad breath (90%+) is something completely different.Myth 5: There Is A One-Time Cure For Bad Breath.
It takes quite a long time to develop a bad breath problem. It doesn't happen overnight. There are a number of factors that gradually combine to cause it. In the same way, while you can rapidly eliminate the odor in just a few days, it will also take time to undo the damage, and to change the environment in your mouth from one that the microorganisms which cause most cases of bad breath love and thrive in to one that they hate and can't survive in.By following the recommendations of The Bad Breath Report, most people will get rid of their problem very rapidly. However, if they then stop, and fall back into their old patterns and old ways of doing things, it should come as no surprise that the "old problem" (i.e. bad breath) will gradually begin to reemerge.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Bad Breath Test
How To Test Yourself For Bad Breath. (Multiple Tests)
That's because, despite the fact that bad breath contains all kinds of nasty stuff that would make you wretch if it came from someone else, the problem usually develops so slowly and so gradually that you simply become used to the smell from yourself. Your body becomes so acclimatized to the specific concentrations of nasty stuff in your bad breath, that you simply don't notice it anymore!
That's not true for other people though! They absolutely notice it. Even if they have bad breath themselves, their body is only acclimatized to the specific concentrations of nasty smells they themselves emit - not the stuff you exude! In most cases, people only become aware of having a bad breath problem by the reactions of those around them. If you notice people suddenly stepping back when you come near, it's a good indicator that something is wrong.
That's a pretty embarrassing way to find out though. So, if you think you have bad breath, but don't want to go around asking people if you can breathe on them to find out for sure, you might be interested in some simple bad breath tests you can do right now...
1. The Hand Test:
Probably the easiest and best-known way is to simply lick the back of your hand, and let it dry for 5 or 10 seconds. Then sniff it. This works because you've transferred some of the 'stuff' that makes your breath smell on to your hand, while removing your actual breath (which you can't smell) from the equation.
2. The Gauze Test:
You could also wipe your tongue with a large piece of gauze or cotton wool, and let that dry in the same way as above. This works for the same reason (as licking your hand) but has the added advantage of allowing you to check for a yellowish stain on it. If you notice that, it's a very strong indicator of a bad breath problem.
3. The Spoon Test:
Take a regular spoon from your kitchen, turn it upside down, and gently scrape it along the surface of your tongue. Again, let it dry and smell it. This also works for the same reason as above.
4. The Floss Test:
You can also take a piece of dental floss (or dental tape) and run it between some of your back teeth. Let that dry too, and then smell it. Although, in virtually all cases, the (bad breath) problem doesn't actually originate from the teeth, there is still enough 'stuff' that produces the bad smell between them to give a good indication of a problem. This method will also give you an idea of what your bad breath smells like to other people.
5. The Mirror Test:
Look into a mirror, and stick your tongue out as far as you can. Does your tongue have a white coating on it? The intensity of this coating will give a reasonably good idea of the intensity of your bad breath. Also, in general, the farther back (towards your throat) that white coating extends, the worse the problem.
Also, another good indicator of a bad breath problem is if different foods and drinks (like dairy foods, alcohol, soda, and sugar) affect your taste. This includes alcohol-based mouthwash.
It's possible to undergo a very accurate scientific test at a specialist bad breath clinic too. There, doctors will use special instruments, such as a 'Halimeter', to examine and classify the chemical compounds present in your breath. However, these will cost you several hundred (and, in some cases, several thousand) dollars, and are unlikely to be covered by any health insurance plans.
While all of the above are excellent ways to test for bad breath, the simple truth is, if you think you have bad breath, then you probably do: As mentioned earlier, most people become aware of the problem by the reaction of those around them. Humans are highly social animals and, as such, can detect a negative reaction in another person from a mile away (even if, as is the case with bad breath, that reaction is involuntary). If people turn away... step back... and cover their nose and mouth when you're near them, then the above tests probably aren't even necessary... you can make a pretty safe assumption that you do have a problem!
"5 Bad Breath Tests You Can Do Right Now... Before You Finish This Article!"
Unfortunately (or, perhaps, fortunately!), you can't smell your own bad breath. Even if you cup your hand over your mouth and nose, and take a sniff right after you breath out, you're really only smelling your own hand, not your breath.That's because, despite the fact that bad breath contains all kinds of nasty stuff that would make you wretch if it came from someone else, the problem usually develops so slowly and so gradually that you simply become used to the smell from yourself. Your body becomes so acclimatized to the specific concentrations of nasty stuff in your bad breath, that you simply don't notice it anymore!
That's not true for other people though! They absolutely notice it. Even if they have bad breath themselves, their body is only acclimatized to the specific concentrations of nasty smells they themselves emit - not the stuff you exude! In most cases, people only become aware of having a bad breath problem by the reactions of those around them. If you notice people suddenly stepping back when you come near, it's a good indicator that something is wrong.
That's a pretty embarrassing way to find out though. So, if you think you have bad breath, but don't want to go around asking people if you can breathe on them to find out for sure, you might be interested in some simple bad breath tests you can do right now...
1. The Hand Test:
Probably the easiest and best-known way is to simply lick the back of your hand, and let it dry for 5 or 10 seconds. Then sniff it. This works because you've transferred some of the 'stuff' that makes your breath smell on to your hand, while removing your actual breath (which you can't smell) from the equation.
2. The Gauze Test:
You could also wipe your tongue with a large piece of gauze or cotton wool, and let that dry in the same way as above. This works for the same reason (as licking your hand) but has the added advantage of allowing you to check for a yellowish stain on it. If you notice that, it's a very strong indicator of a bad breath problem.
3. The Spoon Test:
Take a regular spoon from your kitchen, turn it upside down, and gently scrape it along the surface of your tongue. Again, let it dry and smell it. This also works for the same reason as above.
4. The Floss Test:
You can also take a piece of dental floss (or dental tape) and run it between some of your back teeth. Let that dry too, and then smell it. Although, in virtually all cases, the (bad breath) problem doesn't actually originate from the teeth, there is still enough 'stuff' that produces the bad smell between them to give a good indication of a problem. This method will also give you an idea of what your bad breath smells like to other people.
5. The Mirror Test:
Look into a mirror, and stick your tongue out as far as you can. Does your tongue have a white coating on it? The intensity of this coating will give a reasonably good idea of the intensity of your bad breath. Also, in general, the farther back (towards your throat) that white coating extends, the worse the problem.
Also, another good indicator of a bad breath problem is if different foods and drinks (like dairy foods, alcohol, soda, and sugar) affect your taste. This includes alcohol-based mouthwash.
It's possible to undergo a very accurate scientific test at a specialist bad breath clinic too. There, doctors will use special instruments, such as a 'Halimeter', to examine and classify the chemical compounds present in your breath. However, these will cost you several hundred (and, in some cases, several thousand) dollars, and are unlikely to be covered by any health insurance plans.
While all of the above are excellent ways to test for bad breath, the simple truth is, if you think you have bad breath, then you probably do: As mentioned earlier, most people become aware of the problem by the reaction of those around them. Humans are highly social animals and, as such, can detect a negative reaction in another person from a mile away (even if, as is the case with bad breath, that reaction is involuntary). If people turn away... step back... and cover their nose and mouth when you're near them, then the above tests probably aren't even necessary... you can make a pretty safe assumption that you do have a problem!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)