Everything Mouth

I brush my teeth regularly and still develop bad breath. Why?

2011-01-07T17:56:00.001-08:00

The majority of individuals with bad breath have an oral condition as a cause. If a person has healthy teeth and gums (i.e. no cavities, gum disease or abscesses), the next most common source of oral malodor is the tongue. And it is hard to believe but more than 70% of the population never cleans their tongue. These individuals wipe their back side after pooping, but yet never bother to clean the tongue properly. The tongue has a lot of furrows and has a tendency to grow bacteria in the grooves. With time, food particles also get into the grooves and the combination of bacteria and food is bad news.

Bacteria have the ability to generate a variety of sulfur chemicals (hydrogen sulfide) that are released in the mouth. The majority of the bacteria collect in the posterior aspect of the tongue which is difficult to access for cleaning.

Whenever I do not eat, I develop awful bad breath. Why is that?

2011-01-07T17:52:00.000-08:00

A common but reversible and transient cause of bad breath is after prolonged fasting. This bad breath may have its origin in the stomach. When one has not eaten food for a prolonged time, the acids and various other juices in the stomach mix with the bacteria and generate gases which are emitted by the mouth. Again, the condition is easily treatable. Eat and drink on time. If you are going to fast, rinse your mouth with water regularly.

Why do people have bad breath in the morning?

2011-01-07T17:49:00.001-08:00

Everyone has bad breath after waking up in the morning- and this is normal; even Julius Caesar and Cleopatra had to suffer the morning woes of a smelly mouth. The reason for this is that the mouth has decreased saliva during the night. In addition, the salivary glands also function less efficiently during this time period. This environment allows residential bacteria to grow and generate a noxious smell. This bad breath is worse in individual who are mouth breather- since this dries up the mouth more. However, this is a transient condition and easily treatable. Rinsing, brushing and regular dental care will remove the bad breath and a fresh aroma will appear.

What is the cause of bad breath?

2011-01-07T17:45:00.001-08:00

In most individuals, the cause of bad breath is in the mouth. Bad breath occurs because bacteria in the mouth start to grow on decaying food or debris. There are millions of bacteria in the mouth and they normally function to keep the mouth clean and get rid of other predators. However, when oral hygiene is poor and dental care is non-existent, bacteria start to grow on the debris and also encourage other bacteria to grow. The bacteria then generate gases like hydrogen sulfide (there are other gases also) which is the main cause of bad breath. The condition then starts to worsen like a stagnant toilet which is not flushed. If oral care is poor, the bad breath just progresses and gets worse.

.I have terrible breath, but am shy to seek help!

2011-01-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

Do not worry, you are not alone. One can dress well, have a decent hair cut. Look primp, proper, sexy and have a million dollar look but bad breath can dissipate that feeling in a second. Bad breath for some unknown reason is a big social taboo and all individuals are so embarrassed that they just do not tell anyone- and so the agony is prolonged. The majority of the individuals with bad breath self treat their condition for years before seeking any medical advice. The mouth wash industry has burgeoned into a billion dollar industry. They are thousands of products available, hundreds or mother water rinses, every type of gum, exotic dental flosses and even mouth sprays. This is all fine but they are temporary measures and do not cure the problem. In most cases, home remedies can help resolve bad breath- see the answer coming up.

Which mouthwash should I buy to treat bad breath?

2010-10-26T13:41:00.001-07:00

Bad breath is a common problem and most people think that buying a mouthwash is the answer to this unpleasant disorder. There are hundreds of mouthwashes available with a variety of ingredients. Most mouthwashes do work but only transiently. The oil-based mouthwashes are more effective than the water based mouthwashes as they work for longer periods. However, mouthwashes are also expensive.

For someone who cannot afford a mouthwash, some homemade rinses may help. Simply add some olive oil to the regular mouthwash and it will make a big difference to your breath. Mouthwashes that are proven to work include Listerine. This particular mouthwash does contain essentials like thymol, methanol, eucalyptol and methyl salicylate.

It is important for all consumers to avoid mouthwashes that contain antibiotics, so read the labels. Antibiotics in mouthwashes also kill the normal bacteria in the mouth and make you prone to fungal infections like candida, which makes bad breath worse.

The best mouthwashes to treat bad breath are those that contain ammonium zinc, chlorine dioxide or trichlorosan. Chlorhexidine has strong anti microbial properties and thus, its use should be limited.

Finally remember, just using a mouthwash to treat bad breath is only a temporary solution. You need to combine it with good oral hygiene. A visit to the dentist to check up on your gums and teeth once a year is not a bad idea if you can afford it.

How can I get rid of bad breath?

2010-10-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

It is important to understand that the majority of bad breath cases can be treated by simple home remedies. Going to see a dentist or a doctor for one episode of bad breath is just a waste of time and money because the advice these professionals give is common sense.

Before you waste money on any health professional, start by regularly brushing and flossing your teeth. This means brushing teeth after every meal if possible. Next, floss your teeth at least twice a day. The next most important thing is to scarp your tongue of all the debris and other junk. These three maneuvers will get rid of bad breath in the majority of people in just a few weeks.

Only when these maneuvers do not help should one seek professional advice. When bad breath persists, it is wise to see a dentist and ensure that there is no gum or tooth infection. If the dental exam is fine then one should persist with the teeth brushing and flossing.

Other simple remedies to get rid of bad breath include frequent rinses with mouthy washes, thorough treatment of any sinus infection, avoiding spicy foods and drinking lots of water.

Do teeth whitening toothpastes work?

2010-10-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

The simple answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT. Next to health care professionals who make wild promises, the biggest scammers are dentists and the teeth cleaning industry making preposterous claims. Dentists having run out of patients from whom they can pull put wisdom teeth, have now resorted to making exorbitant claims about toothpastes and teeth whitening.

There are hundreds of teeth whitening products on the market and unfortunately, all of them are a waste of your hard-earned money. Next to weight loss gimmicks, teeth whitening products are another major swindle. To make matters worse, many dentists continue to make false claims about these products.

The only people who claim that that these products work are dentists and people who are paid to make the ads. Whether you buy your toothpaste made by Colgate, Aqua fresh or Crest, it does not make any difference. You will not have white teeth from any toothpaste!

Some toothpastes use peroxide to whiten teeth. However, the amount of peroxide in toothpaste is so minute that even if you brush your teeth every hour for a whole year, your teeth will still look yellow. Other toothpastes contain sodium tripolyphosphate but the concentration is again too small to cause teeth whitening. Besides bleaching agents, some toothpastes also contain abrasive agents that may help remove stains while your brush. These abrasive agents can even remove your unwanted hair.

However, the question is, “do these teeth whitening products work?” the answer is NO. Teeth whitening toothpastes do not work. Brushing a few minutes every day is not enough to whiten teeth. When you have stains from coffee and or smoking which have developed over many years, one has to be realistic. Teeth whitening products only work for the most superficial stains. Moreover, if you use toothpastes that contain abrasives, not only will you not have any stains but most will also remove your enamel and you will have no teeth later in life.

The nice white pristine teeth that one sees on Celebrities is often done with the use of lasers or veneers (which can cost thousands of dollars). Veneers can cost as much a brand new car and in today’s economy, which one do you want more?

If you want white teeth, stop smoking; avoid drinking too many colas and coffee. Moreover, brush and floss your teeth every day. The only thing teeth whitening toothpastes will do for you is bring a lot of disappointments.

What does it mean if you have weird purple sores in your mouth that don’t go away? (Female, 17)

2010-10-01T11:56:00.001-07:00

Based on the little history provided, you may have a canker sore. Canker sores are very shallow painful sores in the mouth. They are usually red or purple and sometimes have a white coating over them. Canker sores often occur on the inside of lips and cheeks, base of the gums and underneath the tongue. Canker sores are different from the cold sores (fever blisters) which usually occur on the outside on the lips and along the corners of the mouth. Another name for canker sores is aphthous ulcers.

Anyone can develop canker sores but they are most common in young females. Canker sores often run in families but are not contagious. The cause of canker sores is not known but may perhaps be related to stress, poor nutrition, food allergies or the menstrual cycle. There is unfortunately no cure for canker sores and most disappear spontaneously in 7-10 days. If there is moderate to severe pain, one may take an over the counter pain pill. There are also a number of creams sold over the counter that can help protect the canker sore from getting further irritated when you drink, eat or brush your teeth.

There is no way of preventing canker sores from occurring. However, one can reduce the irritation in the mouth by avoiding hot spicy foods, not chewing gum or smoking. It is recommended that one use a soft toothbrush and maintain good oral hygiene. If your canker sores are painful or recurrent, speak to your family doctor for more assistance.