Self Tests to Identify Halitosis

Halitosis, or bad breath, is common in everyone’s lives and it can difficult to treat. It is caused by the bacteria living inside the human mouth and thriving on remaining food particles. When consuming these nutrients they emit gases that we identify as bad breath. The problem with this affliction is that it is difficult to identify personally without the help of anyone else.

The problem with self-testing for a bad breath is that we can’t exactly smell our own breath. Due to the construction of our olfactory sense, with our nose basically being connected to the mouth, we tend to ignore this background smell that is present with us at all times. This makes it tricky for someone to realize that he or she has a bad breath without another individual smelling the odor. There are however a few tricks that would allow us to identify the smell of our breath and here’s how.

The first test is simple and anyone can perform it in a few seconds. Lick the back of your hand or your wrist and wait for the saliva to dry out. Once it’s dry, smell the area which you just licked to identify the quality of your breath. The problem with this test is that it actually shows how the tip of your tongue smells and it is not an accurate representation of your breath in general. The front section of the tongue can actually clean itself, therefore there is less bacteria to be found here than in rest of the mouth. For the next, more accurate test, you should take a spoon and scrape the back of the tongue with it. The smell of the saliva which you scrape will most likely be worse than that from the tip of the tongue as there will be far more bacteria. The color of this saliva can also be a clue as it has been shown that those with halitosis will have a yellow or even brown saliva at the back of the tongue.

These simple tests are enough to prove whether you have a foul breath. If still not certain and if you are having doubts, the safest way of determining bad breath is by asking a second opinion. Ideally it would be to ask a dentist to analyze the odor as they are experts and this is part of their duty, but anyone else could do just as well. If your the odor of your breath is bad, it will be easily noticed by a second person that is not used to the smell as you are.

Conclusion

Self-testing can be done easily and determining the quality of your breath can take less than a minute. It is, however, advisable to seek professional help from a dentist as he can assess the damage far more accurately and offer advice or treatment on how to cure the root of the problem.

The Benefits of Celery For Bad Breath

We have bad breath every now and then, especially if we have been eating spicy foods. Bad breath, known as halitosis in medical jargon, is a common problem that can cause embarrassment to most people. Because bad breath may destroy your social life, your self-confidence and the way you handle relationships, it is important that you get rid of it permanently. One of the ancient remedies for bad breath is celery. Chewing on celery can stimulate your mouth to create saliva and can help get rid of bacteria and other cellular debris from your mouth. Thus, after chewing celery, your mouth is clean and free of microbes that can cause bad breath.

However, celery cannot cure bad breath which is often caused by some medical conditions and dental problems. If you have bad breath that is caused by these, you need to seek consult from your medical doctor and your dentist. You also need to maintain good oral hygiene and change your diet if you do not want to be burdened by bad breath.

The Causes of Bad Breath

Morning breath is bad breath, yet this is viewed as normal because it can be easily be removed by tooth brushing. This happens because bacteria builds up overnight due to the reduction in saliva secretions. This causes the decay of food and bacteria so that foul odors are produced.

Other causes of bad breath are eating foods which have spices such as garlic and onions. However, this type of bad breath caused by food can easily be treated. Long-term bad breath, especially when it lasts throughout the day, is not normal. It can also kill your self-confidence and can cause limitations in your social interactions.

Bad breath can also be due to poor mouth hygiene, oral infections and teeth infections. It can also be due to gastrointestinal disorders, pulmonary illnesses, problems of the salivary gland and poor lifestyle habits. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, you will allow food to decay and bacteria to overgrow in your mouth. Cigarette smoking, coffee drinking and tobacco chewing can also cause long-term bad breath.

How Celery Treats Bad Breath

Celery has been used for centuries in alleviating bad breath. This is because it is high in fiber. Foods rich in fiber such as apples and carrots can cause increase in the production of saliva which can further flush out bacteria and decaying food from the mouth. The fiber acts as a dental floss that works between the teeth; it can also act as a sponge that can cleanse the tongue.

Aside from these benefits, celery and other fiber-rich foods can help clean your intestines to prevent the buildup of toxins and waste products. These waste products can also cause bad breath. This is why you should chew on a piece of celery after meals or after smoking cigarettes. However, celery should not be used as a replacement for regular brushing and flossing. It should also not be used to treat other medical conditions that may cause bad breath such as a tooth abscess or gastrointestinal disorders. Also, you should wash celery first before you eat them raw.

There are also a lot of natural remedies for bad breath you can try. Examples of these remedies are ginger, black tea, green tea, parsley, peppermint oil and spearmint herb. Gums with xylitol can also help. Don’t forget to drink more water to flush your mouth and to get rid of those bad-breath-causing bacteria.

Treating Bad Breath

Bad Breath is a real health and social problem especially nowadays when people will be judged at school or at the office if they emit any kind of unpleasant odor, even if they simply have no control over it. Also called halitosis, this problem is experienced by the vast majority of people at least at some point in their life time. The bad breath is caused by the bacteria that lives inside the oral cavity, feeding on nutrients on the tongue, gum or stuck between teeth. These micro organism will unleash foul smelling gases as they consume these left over food particles, thus resulting in bad breath. Treating it is possible but it can sometimes be troublesome, depending on individual and what directly has an impact on the smell.

What Leads to Having Bad Breath

The bad breath in the morning when waking up is probably most common form of this affliction. The reason this happens to all of us is because we lack saliva during the night as our body no longer focuses on producing it. Without this crucial element we have no way of trapping the gases which the bacteria are letting out, therefore the smell is far more potent and noticeable. Lack of hydration or breathing through the mouth when sick leads to the exact same problem, which is a lack of saliva. A dry mouth has no way of washing off some of the bacteria and the gas that comes from them is not halted by anything.

Lifestyle and diet are the next culprits that cause bad breath. For example smoking is a lifestyle choice and this most certainly leads to having an unpleasant breath. The nicotine, tar and other compounds found in the cigarette will stick to the teeth and tissue, thus causing a bad smell constantly. Not only that but the hot air and smoke that is being inhaled will dry the mouth, which reduced the amount of saliva and makes the bad smell even more obvious.

The Cure

Preventing is easier than treating but either way, it is no easy task to change the bad breath as it requires a constant focus on hygiene, diet and lifestyle. Regularly brushing your teeth, cleaning the tongue, flossing and using anti-bacterial mouth wash will significantly improve the quality of your breath and prevent halitosis from being encountered.

Proper hydration and maintaining a healthy diet are also crucial. Drinking water will actually clean the mouth from the gases and supply the body with what it needs to create saliva. Eating vegetables such carrots or fruits like apples will clean and hydrate. The texture of these foods will actually help to scrub the food particles and the bacteria from the teeth.

Understanding bad breath is key when it comes to prevention. A proper hygiene, healthy lifestyle and proper diet will keep the bacteria at bay by killing it directly or by removing their food source, thus limiting their numbers.

Treating Bad Breath With Zinc

Have you ever been bothered with bad breath? Well, you are not alone. Bad breath affects normal people every now and then, especially when we wake up early in the morning. However, this bad breath that we encounter in the morning is normal because there is reduced saliva secretion during the night, further causing the buildup of bacteria and decayed food. Morning bad breath is temporary and disappears when you brush your teeth or gargle in the morning.

However, there is this type of bad breath of halitosis that lasts throughout the day. This long-lasting bad breath can actually make you lose your self-confidence and may limit your social interactions. Bad breath can be an embarrassing problem and many people are not aware that they have it. This is why proper dental hygiene should be observed along with the use of zinc-containing products to ensure that you have long lasting fresh breath.

How Zinc Stops Bad Breath

So what causes bad breath in general? Bad breath may be caused by bacteria that bind to the surface of the proteins in the mouth. These bacteria then convert these protein molecules into sulfur gas, an organic compound that smells like a rotten egg. These sulfur gases are responsible for your bad breath. Zinc can decrease the concentration of sulfur gases so that you are left with fresh breath.

According to dentists, bad breath is caused by gram-negative anaerobic bacteria that live on the surface of the mouth. If you eat onions and garlic, smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, you can have temporary bad breath. Throat infections or sinusitis can also cause bad breath but it usually goes away once the infection gets treated. Thirst or dehydration and a dry mouth can also cause bad breath.

One way of using zinc to get rid of bad breath is by using a mouth-wash sold over-the-counter which contains zinc. Any mouthwash that does not contain any zinc is like rinsing the mouth with just plain water. These plain mouthwashes act as only a temporary fix for bad breath without the zinc, and its mint flavor and fragrance can only mask the real problem causing the bad breath. Good mouthwashes are those that contain zinc chloride, especially those that also contain an aromatic compound called ionone. This combination can remove bad breath for a longer period of time that plain mouthwashes. Temporary fixes for bad breath are lozenges, chewing gums, mints, sprays and drops. Always check the label for zinc because if the product contains this mineral, it may hold back bad breath for longer periods of time.

So why is zinc effective in eliminating bad breath? This is because zinc has the capacity to bind to protein receptors to which bacteria bind to release foul smelling sulfur gasses. Zinc ions in mouthwashes can freshen breath for longer periods of time.

Aside from picking the right mouth-wash it is important that you practice good oral hygiene. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day. You should also floss and rinse with a zinc-containing mouthwash regularly. Have your teeth checked by a dentist to know whether you have decaying teeth or not. Your dentist can fill up cavities which are caused by tooth decay and give out bad breath. Also, do not forget to eat nutritious food that mostly consists of fruits and vegetables. Also, you must limit your intake of sugary foods and acidic drinks.

Ultimate Cure for Bad Breath

Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is something a vast number of people are afflicted with. The majority of those who have a bad breath, however, falsely think that it is caused by diet or lifestyle and that they need to improve their dental hygiene. Recent discoveries, however, prove otherwise as the cause for halitosis has been finally found. Not only that, but a cure has also been established that will remove the smelly breath forever and the procedure doesn’t even last more than fifteen minutes.

Cause of Halitosis

For years researchers as well as the common people with a bad breath have been focusing on teeth and gums to be the source of the problem. Halitosis was blamed on various gum diseases and on types of bacteria that emit a foul odor when consuming nutrients found inside a person’s mouth. A researcher, however, has finally proven that the cause of the bad breath actually lies in the tonsils, an area always overlooked by scientists when it came to oral health.

It has been proven that bacteria can thrive inside the tonsils and the majority of those with a bad breath actually have their tonsils slightly inflamed by the bacteria instead of feeling any kind of pain. For the majority of people with a mild bad breath it is indeed enough to clean the teeth, tongue and gums with tooth paste and mouthwash but the bacteria from the tonsils will not be eliminated. This type of bacteria will constantly produce a foul gas that will cause a bad breath and using conventional methods of hygiene will prove to be an ineffective attempt.

The Cure

The answer to halitosis caused by the bacteria living inside the tonsils is laser treatment. This procedure is not as dreadful as it sounds as it would take only 15 minutes to get rid of the bacteria once and for all and completely solve the problem so many millions of people are afflicted with. This procedure involves a laser destroying the infected tissue and creating scarred tissue that the bacteria cannot use as their environment. It is a simple method that takes very little time and it can be done while the patient is awake with the tonsils being numbed with an anesthetic spray.

This procedure has already been tested on a group of people and it has shockingly worked on half of them after just one single session. The bacteria and bad breath has been successfully eliminated with just one laser treatment session. For other people it took a second and rarely a third session to completely remove all of the infected tissue and bacteria that caused bad breath.

Conclusion

Halitosis is on the verge of being a problem of the past as this new, yet simple, revolutionizing treatment is being further tested and improved. It is simple, effective and safe to the patient without even causing pain.

Understanding Your Body’s Odor

Body odor is something every single individual, whether it is unpleasant due to sweat and bacteria or unnoticeable. Every person has a unique smell that has been established to be as unique as fingerprints. The odor will depend on the person’s lifestyle, eating habits, daily routines and type or number of certain bacteria. An unpleasant odor is usually caused by the growth of bacteria that thrives on consuming nutrients from the human sweat and thus emanating a foul smell as a result of this process. While the bad body odor can be taken care of, humans still have their unique odor that depends on health and can have a social impact, such as in relationships.

The individual body odor can have many effects on an individual, from both a health and social point of view. Every person has his or her unique scent that has nothing to do with the sweat or bacteria that lead to a bad body odor. For example, like with animals, it has been determined that a person’s body odor will have an impact on his love life and possible relationships. People can be attracted to others with a particular smell or they could be repelled by it. According to researchers people with a very similar odor are not attracted to each other in the majority of the cases, quite the contrary, while those with a completely different smell can be more attractive. Of course smell on its own is not enough to determine a possible relationship but it does play a significant role.

Body odor plays a similar role when it comes to friendships as well. It has been determined that people can be attracted to your smell and even determine what kind of person you are by smell, thus either be attracted or repelled by you. After a series of tests it has been proven that simply based by smell, people can learn things about your personality, such as whether you are dominant in nature or neurotic.

On top of odor’s importance in society, it can also determine your state of health. It has been proven that body odor changes even when just suffering from the common cold. Doctors can’t identify the sickness just through the sense of smell but it has been determined that a group of healthy humans will identify those around them who are sick. Dogs also have the ability of pointing out cancer or diabetes patients either by directly smelling them or by sensing their scent coming from urine.

Conclusion

Body odor does not represent only the foul smell that we humans emit when sweating and not taking care of our personal hygiene on a regular basis. The individual smell has a social impact as fellow members of society can obtain information about you just by sensing your body odor. Not only that, but your state of health can also be recognized both by humans and animals as odor changes when sick.

What is Halitosis

Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is experienced by people around the world on a daily basis. There are many factors that lead to an unpleasant odor as it can be influenced by diet, lifestyle, hygiene, as well as things we have no control over. Struggling with bad breath especially in today’s highly active society can be a real problem, but understanding the root of the problem and applying methods of treating it can lead to serious chances in one’s environment.

Understanding Bad Breath

Halitosis is the result of certain types of bacteria that emit foul smelling gases when consuming the nutrients found in food particles that remain in the person’s oral cavity. Diet and poor hygiene are the main reasons the bacteria multiplies out of control and certain foods and drinks will increase the severity of the smell.

Dehydration can become a problem that leads to a bad breath, for example. Saliva is highly important for washing away the bacteria and keeping the odors trapped in the liquid. That is the reason why our morning breath smells so terrible. We do not produce saliva in our sleep, or the amount that we do is negligible, therefore nothing will trap the foul gases released by the bacteria. Same thing happens when a person goes on a highly restrictive diet, especially without properly hydrating himself. The amount of saliva that is being produced is significantly lowered, therefore the breath will emit a foul odor.

Diet is key when it comes to breath smell. Every individual reacts different to various foods and drinks, but it has been established that certain products will cause a bad breath while others will actually help to freshen it. For example, onions, garlic and alcohol should be avoided by most as they will lead to a bad breath, at least temporarily. There are, however foods that will counter this effects, such as carrots, apples and fiber rich vegetables. In any case, the person suspecting that the bad breath is caused because of what he eats or drinks, should eliminate one food or drink item from his diet systematically until the culprit is found.

Freshening your Breath

Dental hygiene is the most important aspect when it comes to keeping the breath fresh. Every person should regularly brush his teeth, use anti-bacterial mouthwash and floss to remove the food particles stuck between the teeth. The tongue should be cleaned as well as it is a perfect place for bacteria to develop, especially when a large number of people forget to brush it.

Toothpaste and gums or mints aren’t always available for quickly freshening the breath but there are other ways. For instance, simply drinking water is enough to freshen the breath and significantly reduce the foul smelling odor. Clearing the gases trapped inside the mouth and hydrating to create more saliva will yield immediate results.

Conclusion

Bad breath is a common problem but it can be easily controlled. Paying attention to hygiene, diet and lifestyle will all contribute to oral health. Focusing on only one aspect may not be enough, but when applying all the measures at once, bad breath will certainly become a thing of the past.

What Leads to Bad Breath?

Everyone needs to deal with bad breath at some point as there are many things that can lead to it. The root of the problem is bacteria releasing foul smelling gases while consuming the nutrients left behind after a meal or a snack but there are other causes that will increase the number of bacteria or worsen the odor itself. Diet and lifestyle habits will have a significant impact on the intensity of the smell and how frequent it will appear. Dental hygiene is surely important but it will not always be enough to fight the smell and bacteria, especially if something like gum disease is also involved.

Reasons for Having a Bad Breath

The day starts with bad morning breath for everyone. This is the most common type of bad breath that is caused due to a lack of saliva in the mouth. The production of saliva is significantly reduced or even halted during the night. This leads to bacteria releasing the bad smelling gases without being stopped by anything as the saliva’s role is also to trap these noxious emissions coming from the bacteria. The exact same problem is encountered when not properly hydrated by drinking plenty of water on a regular basis. Anything that reduces the production of saliva will lead to a sour breath that is unpleasant.

Smoking is another reason why people can experience a bad breath. Nicotine as well as other compounds found in tobacco will worsen the breath as they tend to stick to the teeth, thus emanating an odor. Smoking will also dry the inside of the mouth and reduce the amount of saliva that is present, thus causing the same problems described above. Not only that but smokers also remain far more vulnerable to various gum disease that will cause a bad breath and there is no way of preventing this without quitting the habit.

Gum disease like gingivitis are the second most commonly encountered problem that leads to a bad breath. This affliction is caused mainly by the bacteria that creates sulfurous gases that will cause the gum’s tissue to become inflamed. This can be prevented, however, by paying more attention to oral hygiene and making sure to brush regularly and floss as food particles, together with the bacteria, will remain stuck between the teeth. It has also been shown that people with gingivitis will also have a far larger population of bacteria on the tongue, therefore people should not ignore brushing and cleaning the tongue as well.

 mConclusion

Bad breath, whether it’s morning breath or a foul smell caused by a particular gum disease can only be prevented by paying attention to dental hygiene, regulate diet and adjust lifestyle accordingly. Foods that lead to a smelly breath should be avoided while every person should make sure to brush, floss and use anti-bacterial mouthwash regularly.