Bad Breath Explained!

  Bad breath has several origins, but is generally caused by sulfuric compounds which are the waste products of bacteria in the mouth. Read on for several tips on combating the breath of death. For a friend, of course!  

Remove Bacteria and Bacterial Waste Products

Sound gross? You ought to see it under a microscope. Live organisms called rods and spirochetes are wriggling in the soft, yellow deposits around your teeth. The longer they live, the more they stink. These need to removed daily by flossing and brushing. And more flossing. (What did you think I was going to say?)  

Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water helps maintain salivary flow and keeps the saliva at a neutral pH. Bacteria love an acidic environment and their waste products are, in fact, acids. This not only smells bad, it also creates holes in the teeth. The goal is to drink half your body weight in ounces. For example, a 150-pound person should drink at least 75 ounces of water every day.  

Eat Yogurt

A study by the International Association for Dental Research showed that eating 3 ounces of yogurt twice daily for 6 weeks resulted in an 80% drop in oral hydrogen sulfide, which is a major cause of bad breath. Go for plain Greek yogurt with no sugar added. This is also excellent for gut health due to the probiotics in the yogurt.  

Clean Your Tongue

Bacteria love dark, warm, moist places. In addition to the spaces between the teeth, the surface of the tongue is a bacterial paradise. Up to 70% of the bacteria that cause bad breath live here. Use a tongue scraper or your toothbrush to gently scrub the tongue. If you have never used a tongue scraper, you will be surprised at the material you remove from your tongue. As an added benefit, food will taste much better!  

Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables

Many of the processed foods typical in the American diet don’t require much chewing to swallow them. Raw fruits and vegetables, with their fibrous skins and interiors, are nature’s toothbrushes. Broccoli, carrots, apples, and others physically remove bacterial deposits due to the chewing action involved in processing them for digestion. They also add vitamins and anti-oxidants that are absent in processed foods.  

Use OraCare Health Rinse

The ingredient in OraCare is a gas called activated chlorine dioxide. The gas can get access to places that are impossible to reach by liquids and solids, killing bacteria, fungi, and their toxic waste products. Using a two-bottle system, 2 ounces of OraCare is mixed together and swished in the mouth for one minute. Our patients report a reduction in bad breath concerns as well as improved gum health.

Dr. Michael Gillespie has practiced dentistry in Waynesville, NC for 25 years. His award-winning staff provides modern dentistry in a relaxed, caring environment. Call 828-456-9007 to schedule an appointment!