The 6 Causes of Bad Breath

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr._M._Kelly]Dr. M. Kelly

The importance of oral hygiene has been recognized from the earliest days of civilization.

Bad breath can have many causes, but the end result is always the same - no one wants to be around you when you have bad breath!

And because many times the presence of this condition indicates more serious health issues, it's nothing to ignore.

Here are the common causes:

1) Food & Drink

Foods such as onion, garlic, cheese, meats, and oily fish are all known for causing bad breath. Drinks such as alcohol, wine, juices, and soft drinks can contribute to malodorous breath as well.

Fortunately these causes are temporary, and tend to go away within 24 hours.

2) Periodontal Disease

Periodontal diseases affect millions of people and is usually the result of poor dental hygiene. These diseases start very early in life and cause the loss of more teeth than all other reasons combined.

Periodontal disease comes in 2 stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is a superficial infection that is limited to the gum tissue and does not yet affect the underlying bone. The gums may look normal, but they may be red and puffy, bleed when brushed, and emit bad odor.

Periodontitis happens when a biofilm that forms in the mouth causes an infection that spreads from the gums to the underlying bone. In this stage the bone that supports the teeth is lost.

There are several types of periodontitis, while some more aggressive than others.

If the disease is untreated, tooth loss will occur. Periodontitis can cause spacing between the teeth, loosening of teeth, receding gums, and aching, itching, or other discomfort of the gums.

3) Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, or xerostomia is the result of reduced or absent salivary function.

Many medications and disease treatments can cause xerostomia including: analgesics, anticholinergics, antihistamines, antihypertensives, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-Parkinson medications, antipsychotics, bronchodilators, decongestants, diuretics, gastrointestinal agents, hypnotics, oral contraceptives, and radiation therapy.

In addition, some diseases can themselves cause xerostomia, such as diabetes.

4) Respiratory Infection

Even though most odors come from oral causes, some odors come from the tonsils, sinuses, and the esophagus.

Some tonsils get deep indentations in them, which get filled with food and plaque that harden into a ball. Sometimes the patient may cough, releasing the ball and leaving a nasty taste and smell. Flushing out the throat can sometimes help with this problem.

5) Excessive Coffee Consumption

Constant consumption of coffee can lead to stained teeth and bad breath. Over consumption can also lead to headaches and hypertension due to the stimulant components of coffee.

6) Tobacco Use

Use of tobacco can increase the chances of oral cancer and gum disease. Tobacco products damage the gum tissue by affecting the attachment of the bone and soft tissue to your teeth. Smoking can contribute to bad breath, stains on the teeth and tongue, and tarter buildup.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-6-Causes-of-Bad-Breath&id=4879330] The 6 Causes of Bad Breath

Bad Breath and How to Prevent It

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kyle_Kahveci]Kyle Kahveci

Did you ever have the feeling of a repellent smell coming out of your mouth while you were talking to someone? Chances are, you have halitosis or "bad breath." Halitosis usually occurs when one has a neglective oral hygiene or in some cases, a medical condition that triggers bad breath. The effects of halitosis can detriment both your health and your social life. It has been reported that approximately 14% to 25% of the American population suffers from chronic bad breath and half of those figures don't even know they have it.

Another widely debunked myth is that alcohol-based mouthwash, toothpastes, and breath mints contribute to eliminating serious cases of bad breath. Breath mints and the sorts only offer a temporary relief from halitosis and may be regarded as just "temporary remedies" and not a "permanent cure" from bad breath.

Though you may mistake over-the-counter mouthwashes to be the complete solution for persistent bad breath, think again - research shows that while mouthwash does actually kill the bacteria... it doesn't repel it for the entire duration of a day. But in recent years, new ingredients added to mouthwashes actually do the job in the present era. Stabilized chlorine dioxide is now found on almost any mouthwash brand. New formulas for mouthwashes also compliment in helping fighting against tooth decay by preventing plaque buildup.

Then again, mouth washes are not enough to rid yourself of bad breath. A strict oral hygiene must be implemented for people suffering from halitosis. These hygienic practices include:

1. Brushing your teeth before and after meals and before you sleep at night.

2. Do not forget to floss in-between teeth.

3. Softly brush/scrape your tongue using the bristles (or in some cases, the back of your toothbrush comes with a tongue-scraper).

4. Remove, clean and rinse dental appliances like dentures, removable braces, partials or retainers after you eat and soak them in a warm glass of water or in a disinfecting solution.

5. Visit your dentist regularly.

6. Try asking your friends, after a few days/weeks of your oral health regimen, if the bad breath has been removed. If it hasn't, it's high time time to immediately consult a hygienist/dentist.

Another common issue is that people complain of having bad breath when waking up or "morning breath." Morning breath is normal and is caused by the lack of saliva production, which is responsible in killing bacteria. Morning breath is very common and shouldn't be regarded with too much importance, since after gargling with water or mouthwash, the bitter taste will go off-but gargling with mouthwash is more recommended.

Going back, bad breath is caused by a variety of factors, in which all, in some way are connected with the salivary glands of the tongue and with the digestive tract (esophagus/stomach/colon):

• Acidosis - the increase in the acidity of the blood, often caused by the lack of oxygen.

• Appendicitis - the inflammation and subsequent rupture of the appendix.

• Bronchiectasis - the inflammation/dilation of the bronchial tubes, usually caused by congenital conditions.

• Sinusitis - the inflammation of one or both of the paranasal sinuses, primarily caused by bacterial infections.

• Diabetes - evidenced by concurrent spikes in blood sugar.

• Esophageal problems - complications of the esophagus

• Gastroesophageal Reflux - abnormal refluxes of gastric juices in the esophagus, leading to acute pain and indigestion

• Gingivitis - inflammation of the gums caused by poor oral hygiene

• Gum disease - a variety of diseases (like gingivitis and periodontitis) that weaken the gum tissue and consequently leads to dental/medical maladies.

• Kidney failure - or renal failure, is the inability of the body to excrete waste material and to deteriorate electrolyte balance.

• Periodontitis - an advanced infection of the gums and teeth that is often caused by poor oral hygiene. Periodontitis is usually an accelerated form of gingivitis.

• Pharyngitis - or sore throat, is the inflammation of the pharynx

• Postnasal drip - chronic/irregular secretion of mucus from the rear of the nasal cavity all the way into the nasopharynx

• Stomatitis - the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. Another form of sore throat.

• Tooth abscess - or root abscess, is the pus accumulation that surrounds the tooth, usually caused by poor oral hygiene.

• Vincent's disease - another form of gum disease that infects the gum tissue, without any effect on the periodontium

Another important thing to note is that some medications often trigger bad breath, especially those that compromise saliva secretion. Before consulting your dentist, try to list down all the medications that you've taken in over the past month to narrow down the cause of your condition.

NewYorkDentist.com is the main resource for people finding dentists in New York. We offer informational resources that range from up-to-date information about dentists located in New York and their respective services, to cosmetic and hygienic dental products and valuable information regarding dental insurance.

Come visit us at [http://newyorkdentist.com]http://newyorkdentist.com.

(c) Article Copyright - NewYorkDentist.com.

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Dealing With Chronic Bad Breath

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ken_Branson]Ken Branson

Living with chronic bad breath is not just annoying, but also embarrassing. If you have this problem, chances are you avoid speaking or getting too close to people, which obviously has a serious impact on your life. However, as you will discover with the information provided in this article, there are effective ways for dealing with chronic bad breath.

For starters, if you have a problem of chronic bad breath, it would be important for something serious such as infection, illness or disease to be ruled out. If you have spent time and money trying one method after another to get rid of the problem but without success, we suggest you talk to your doctor. If nothing serious is the cause of the chronic bad breath, then you could consider any of the recommendations listed below.

• Oral Hygiene - Even if you brush and floss daily, the problem of chronic bad breath may be that you are not brushing and flossing often or long enough. For example, dental experts state that you should brush a minimum of three times a day, especially after eating. In addition, each time you brush, this process should last a minimum of two minutes. Then, you also want to floss after every meal, as well as first thing in the morning and just before going to bed to remove any hidden particles of food between the teeth.

• Dentures - If you wear dentures, chronic bad breath is actually a common problem. Some materials used to make dentures are more prone to absorbing odors than others are so it is vital to choose the highest quality dentures you can afford. Then regardless of materials, dentures usually need to be cleaned more often than what people do. In addition to daily brushing, dentures should be soaked daily in an approved formula.

• Toothbrushes - Even the type of toothbrush used can keep the mouth clean or cause chronic bad breath. Today, the most popular and effective option is the sonic toothbrush, which rotates much faster than a standard electric design and it helps the toothpaste and water circulate more efficiently.

• Water - Most people never think that too little water intake could cause chronic bad breath but in truth, it can. When the mouth dries out, cells within the mouth die and decompose which in turn produces a nasty smell. Therefore, if you experience dry mouth due to living in a hot climate, taking certain medications or as a natural part of your body's makeup it is important to drink more water daily.

• Dental Care - Along with the things you do at home to prevent and control chronic bad breath, you should also see a dentist for regular cleanings once every six months. At that time, the dentist would be able to identify the start of periodontal disease, cavity or other problem that might cause bad breath but also the potential for infection and/or tooth decay.

• Herbs and Spices - Finally, in addition to doing everything needed to eliminate the problem of chronic bad breath, you can also prevent it from coming back and freshen the mouth by chewing on certain herbs and spices. While this would help cover odor throughout the day, herbs and spices are great for reducing or eliminating odor after eating. For instance, parsley, fennel seeds and cloves are great choices.

For starters, if you have a problem of chronic bad breath, it would be important for something serious such as infection, illness or disease to be ruled out. If you have spent time and money trying one method after another to get rid of the problem but without success, we suggest you talk to your doctor. If nothing serious is the cause of the chronic bad breath, then you could consider any of the recommendations listed below.

• Oral Hygiene - Even if you brush and floss daily, the problem of chronic bad breath may be that you are not brushing and flossing often or long enough. For example, dental experts state that you should brush a minimum of three times a day, especially after eating. In addition, each time you brush, this process should last a minimum of two minutes. Then, you also want to floss after every meal, as well as first thing in the morning and just before going to bed to remove any hidden particles of food between the teeth.

• Dentures - If you wear dentures, chronic bad breath is actually a common problem. Some materials used to make dentures are more prone to absorbing odors than others are so it is vital to choose the highest quality dentures you can afford. Then regardless of materials, dentures usually need to be cleaned more often than what people do. In addition to daily brushing, dentures should be soaked daily in an approved formula.

• Toothbrushes - Even the type of toothbrush used can keep the mouth clean or cause chronic bad breath. Today, the most popular and effective option is the sonic toothbrush, which rotates much faster than a standard electric design and it helps the toothpaste and water circulate more efficiently.

• Water - Most people never think that too little water intake could cause chronic bad breath but in truth, it can. When the mouth dries out, cells within the mouth die and decompose which in turn produces a nasty smell. Therefore, if you experience dry mouth due to living in a hot climate, taking certain medications or as a natural part of your body's makeup it is important to drink more water daily.

• Dental Care - Along with the things you do at home to prevent and control chronic bad breath, you should also see a dentist for regular cleanings once every six months. At that time, the dentist would be able to identify the start of periodontal disease, cavity or other problem that might cause bad breath but also the potential for infection and/or tooth decay.

• Herbs and Spices - Finally, in addition to doing everything needed to eliminate the problem of chronic bad breath, you can also prevent it from coming back and freshen the mouth by chewing on certain herbs and spices. While this would help cover odor throughout the day, herbs and spices are great for reducing or eliminating odor after eating. For instance, parsley, fennel seeds and cloves are great choices.

Ken Branson is a health care provider with a passion for exercise, health and fitness. He enjoys assisting others to create, obtain and maintain their personal health & fitness goals. For more information on [http://www.bestbadbreathanswers.com/chronic-bad-breath/]chronic bad breath, visit http://www.bestbadbreathanswers.com

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Bad Breath Disease Can Easily Be Avoided

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jaber_Ghoneim]Jaber Ghoneim

Bad breath disease is extremely serious. This is not just about making a good impression. No, bad breath can be a serious indication, a sign that your body is giving you to check out what might possibly be wrong underneath the hood, so to speak. Aside from the disease itself, bad breath could be an indication of swollen, inflamed, malfunction or over reacting adenoids. If you are not in pain or not having any difficulty otherwise, then this probably is not the case. But to rule these out there are a few things you can do within the safety and comfort of your own home.

For one, you can compare your dental regiment with the regiment prescribed and recommended by the dental academies and associations of the international health and medical communities. First, they recommend brushing after every meal and snack-that is right: snack. How are you supposed to brush after snacks during the day? Well, there are products and solutions to this that are built for convenience.

First, you can take a bi-fold travel toothbrush. The thing fits in your pocket, and health and fitness lifestyle professional recommend swashing the brush with a sheath veil of toothpaste, just before packing it. The layer of toothpaste should be thin enough so as to not have to worry about any of it getting on your clothing, should you decide to pack the thing in your shirt or jean pocket. By the way, these bi-fold travel toothbrushes come with caps and lids, so the toothpaste on the toothbrush will be enclosed.

On the road, in order to brush after snack, allow yourself to do the so called half brushing. This is a quick brush around the superficial areas of your mouth, the areas that you can readily view, and those areas you can manage to clean without a mirror.

At home is where you want to do the so called full brushing. It is during these brushing that you should find a mirror, and make sure to get to those hard to reach places. Brush out any stains, especially the areas behind your teeth. The most common areas to stain are the backs of the front teeth, where coffee tends to do their worst.

Also during full brushing, make sure to get your flossing in. it is during flossing that you will be massaging the gums by getting into the small crevices and spaces just between the teeth and the gums. The massaging is critical for healthy blood vessel stimulation. Blood vessels are in abundance in your gums, however, if you do not massage these tight and often neglected spaces, the blood vessels will begin to die and become lethargic so to speak.

Jaber is a bad breath expert. For more information on [http://www.cleanbadbreath.com/bad-breath-disease]bad breath disease, please visit [http://www.cleanbadbreath.com]http://www.cleanbadbreath.com.

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Bad Breath Disease and What You Can Do About It

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jaber_Ghoneim]Jaber Ghoneim

Bad breath disease is the leading cause of bacterial infection. You might not have realized this, and this is why you should be paying particular attention to how well you are keeping your mouth's health. The disease is known by dental and medical researchers and experts to be a leading indicator of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a wide host of other diseases. This is why you should be paying attention to your bad breath; it is not just a date breaker or turn off.

First, are you doing your full brushing in the evenings? Are you doing them well and according to dental academies and credible international associations? If you are not sure ask yourself these questions:

• Do you brush with a mirror?

• Are you flossing, even when food is not stuck in between your teeth?

• Are you using an antiseptic mouth wash?

• Are you brushing away stains?

The reason why you want to brush with a mirror is that when you do full brushing, you absolutely must see what you are brushing. You want to look out for bruises and raw exposure of the gums.

And the reason why you want to floss, even if you do not have food stuck between your teeth is that when you do floss, not only do you clear those tight spaces of food debris, but you also massage the lining of your gums that require massaging. See gums are blood vessel rich tissue, and the tissue needs to be stimulated to keep blood circulation.

It is true, the saliva, to an extent is a neutralizing agent that works like an antiseptic. How saliva works is that it is applied to the food material, and it breaks it down. Antiseptics do the same thing in a different way. Antiseptics break down the food material, but they also sterilize the food material and everything around it. This is why you should be careful not to overdo the antiseptic mouth wash. What you can end up doing inadvertently is wear down the gum tissue and make it susceptible to bacterial infection.

After every antiseptic rinse, you absolutely must rinse with regular tap water to relieve your mouth of any harmful toxic residue. If you do not do this, you will be digesting and swallow more than you should. If you are teaching a child to gargle for the first time, depending on their age, dilute their mixture with a ratio of 1:1 of tap water to mouth wash. Make sure your child knows how to gargle with regular tap water before they try rinsing with mouth wash.

When they do rinse with mouth wash make sure that they close out with a tap water rinse. Swallowing toothpaste and mouthwash is a huge concern for pharmaceutical and healthcare companies right now. It is being discovered and learned that the agents in these solutions are actually pretty harmful.

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The Irksome Symptom of Bad Breath Disease

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jaber_Ghoneim]Jaber Ghoneim

One of the most annoying and embarrassing problems that has plagued both men and women across the world is the serious issue of bad breath disease. Recent studies have concluded that even children have not been spared from the sensitive symptom of foul smell released from the mouth.

Are you embarrassed of speaking in public? Does your spouse incessantly complain about a ghastly odor coming from your mouth? Do you suffer from depressive mood swings because of halitosis? The negative impact on your well being, character and personality may make you a loner and depressive soul. Halitosis is one of the most widespread diseases and the rate of spread is very alarming.

There are many reasons for halitosis. One of the main reasons for this is the inflammation of the sinus. This is a common problem and both men and women keep complaining about it. If the mouth is very dry, then there are high chances of foul smell being released from the mouth. Many of us are unaware of the fact that foul smell is emanated from the nose and because of insufficient dietary intake. You should drinks lots of water so that toxins are flushed out of the system. You may want to consult a medical expert or a dentist so that you can get rid of bad breath disease. If you remain hungry for long hours the result may be a trimmer waistline, but you may suffer from bad breath.

However, you may be disappointed to learn that the dentist may not be able to solve the disturbing problem of foul smell. You should not resort to popping pills as they may contain harmful chemicals that may have negative repercussions on your body. You obviously do not wish medical complications to soil your health.

You must implement the natural and home remedies that are very healthy and safe in nature. Harmful chemicals are nowhere used to cause dangerous side effects. You should brush your teeth twice a day and maintain great standards of oral hygiene. If you have problematic gums you should ask the dentist to treat it so that the root cause of bad breath disease (if that is your problem) is eradicated.

You should use the internet, as it is a lethal tool that provides you with ample articles on the topic of bad breath disease in an explicit way.

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Bad Breath and Proton Pump Inhibitors

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=R._Drysdale]R. Drysdale

Many people are confused about the relationship between bad breath and proton pump inhibitors: do these drugs for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) cause halitosis? The confusion arises from the fact that GERD itself is thought to be a cause of halitosis.

GERD is often cited as a cause for halitosis and proton pump inhibitors are a standard treatment for GERD-the idea that these drugs may cause the bad breath, or make it worse is a relatively new development. Some medical professionals, in fact, will assume halitosis in a patient with acid reflux is caused by the condition and use GERD drugs to treat it. We need more research to investigate proton pump inhibitors and bad breath to clarify these issues.

In 2006, Brazilian researchers reported on a study that suggested a link between bad breath and proton pump inhibitors. They reported that a large percentage of patients taking these drugs have halitosis. Furthermore, their research showed a relationship between halitosis and proton pump inhibitors regardless of whether the breath odor originated in the mouth or from a non-oral source. They suggested that the underlying cause was an overgrowth of bacteria, in either the mouth or the intestine, caused by the drug.

Interestingly, many experts feel that relatively few cases of halitosis are caused by acid reflux and odors traveling up the throat from the stomach. This lends more support to the suggestion that halitosis and proton pump inhibitors may be linked: it is possible some cases of bad breath associated with GERD in the past were actually caused by the drugs instead. In addition, it suggests that treating halitosis in GERD patients with these drugs may actually make the problem worse. The answers remain far from clear: more research on bad breath and proton pump inhibitors is required.

For the present, when patients suffer from bad breath and proton pump inhibitors are necessary for the treatment of GERD, the best recourse is still a good breath product that targets the bacteria that produce bad odors in the mouth. At least for those whose halitosis originates in the mouth, this approach should offer some relief.

Patients suffering from either halitosis or GERD should consult a qualified medical professional to determine the best course of treatment.

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to [http://badbreath-cure.blogspot.com]Bad Breath and Proton Pump Inhibitors at Bad Breath Remedies, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Bad-Breath-and-Proton-Pump-Inhibitors&id=935737] Bad Breath and Proton Pump Inhibitors