5 Bad Breath MythsMYTH 1:It's Easy For People to Tell if Their Own Breath StinksMany believe they can smell their own
breath odor by cupping their hands between their mouth and nose.
Unfortunately, we can not tell if our breath smells because we
become accustomed to our own odors.
Additionally, in many cases, we do not
produce bad breath until we talk. This is because bad breath often
originates near the back of the mouth and is propelled forward and
out of the mouth only when we speak.
How can we tell if our breath smells ?
One of the best ways is to have a trusted friend or loved one smell
it for you. If you don't want to do this, wipe near the middle of
your tongue with a cotton ball or gauze pad. Then smell the cotton
ball or gauze pad for odor.
A more accurate assessment of bad
breath can be performed by a dentist using a device called a
halimeter. The patient blows into a straw like tube attached to the
halimeter and the machine measures the amount of volatile sulfur
compounds (VSCs) in the breath. These volatile sulfur compounds are
what give breath its bad smell.
MYTH 2:Bad Breath Comes From the StomachA common misperception is that
bad breath arises from the stomach. While an extremely small
percentage of bad breath problems may be due to stomach and
digestive problems, the overwhelming majority of bad breath arises
from the back of the mouth. Here bacteria feed on mucus and food
particles creating odorous sulfur
compounds.
MYTH 3:Good Dental Hygiene (Tooth Brushing and Flossing) Will Always Eliminate Bad BreathGood dental hygiene (brushing and
flossing) helps eliminate bad breath. Unfortunately, most people do
not properly brush their teeth.
It takes nearly three minutes to
completely brush all tooth surfaces, yet most people spend only 30
to 45 seconds brushing their teeth. Consequently, they consistently
miss tooth surfaces where bacteria are allowed to proliferate and
create odorous volatile sulfur compounds.
People can brush and floss
properly, however, and still be unsuccessful at eliminating bad
breath. The problem is that odor causing bacteria often hide deep
within the crevices of the tongue under a protective layer of mucus
and proteins. Cleaning the tongue with a tongue cleaner (also
called a tongue scraper) can remove this layer of mucus and
proteins, exposing bacteria and freshening breath.
MYTH 4:Mouthwashes Are Effective in Treating Bad Breath People believe mouthwashes
can treat bad breath. Unfortunately, most conventional mouthwashes
only temporarily mask bad breath and are relatively useless at
treating bad breath.
In fact, most conventional
mouthwashes can actually contribute to bad breath formation. This
is because mouthwashes contain a high percentage of alcohol which
tends to dry out the mouth. Bacteria responsible for creating bad
breath grow much better in drier mouths.
A new breed of mouthwashes,
however, are very effective in treating bad breath. These
mouthwashes contain chlorine dioxide which actually attacks the
volatile sulfur compounds on the molecular level.
MYTH 5:To Prevent Bad Breath We Should Focus on the Foods We EatIt is true that temporary bad
breath comes from the foods we eat. Many foods like onions and
cabbage contain high amounts of sulfur compounds. When these foods
are digested the sulfur compounds are absorbed into the blood
stream and carried to the lungs. Here the sulfur compounds are
exhaled as we breathe causing our breath to smell.
Chronic bad breath, however, is
not caused by the foods we eat. Instead, chronic bad breath results
when bacteria in the mouth break down left over food particles
creating odorous sulfur particles. The primary goal in this case is
not a change in diet but a reduction in the number of odor causing
bacteria in the mouth. This can be done with proper brushing,
flossing, and cleaning of the tongue with a tongue cleaner (tongue
scraper).
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Disclaimer: The information contained within is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical care.
Those persons with specific medical questions should consult their dentist, doctor, or other medical care provider.
