Friday, June 30, 2006

      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Unusual Odor in Mouth

We all worry about our breath and most of us experience an unusual odor in mouth from time to time. Very often, however, the problem is not the classic bad breath that we fear. Many things will cause a strange taste or an odd smell in the mouth and most of these are temporary.

Foods will often cause a strange mouth odor. Garlic is very well known for this and people who love the taste of garlic in food will accept the temporary consequences of eating it. Another familiar cause of unusual odor in mouth is coffee – morning breath turns to coffee breath for millions of people all over the world. Again, it will pass. Onions, cheese, and some spices are other culprits. If the smell or taste is too bothersome, we brush our teeth and pop a breath mint or stick of gum in our mouth.

Smoking also typically creates an unusual odor in mouth and on the breath. Smokers usually don’t notice it, but it is one of the things that makes others, particularly spouses, object to the smoking habits of others. If you smoke regularly, the mouth odor caused by tobacco never really goes away.

Sometimes, a funny taste or odor shouldn’t be ignored. An unusual odor in mouth can be a sign of sickness. Diseases that are well known for producing a smell on the breath include diabetes (in cases of ketoacidosis), strept throat, liver or kidney disease, and malignancies (cancer) of the upper airways. Many other conditions can produce an unfamiliar taste and mouth odor, including pregnancy. These tastes and smells, however, are usually different from those associated with typical bad breath. A doctor can help sort out the source of a persistent unusual odor in mouth.

Finally, some drugs are known to affect taste and cause unfamiliar smells on the breath. A drug may affect sensory perception, so that the person taking the drug perceives a mouth odor that is not detected by others. In these cases, it is the sense of smell or taste that is affected, not the mouth air. At other times, a drug can actually produce an unusual odor in mouth, but it is generally unfamiliar rather than offensive.

Obviously, before bad breath can be treated, it’s important to determine whether there really is a mouth odor, and what is causing it. Some cases of bad breath will go away on their own, while some require medical treatment for another problem. Sometimes an unusual odor in mouth is best handled with breath mints, and if the problem really is in the mouth, an effective over the counter or natural remedy may help.


      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Halitosis Bacteria

Halitosis means bad breath. It’s a common problem that is usually caused by halitosis bacteria – a group of bacteria that live in the mouth, getting nutrients from various protein sources found there. These proteins come from dead cells (cells that line the inside of the mouth that are shed and replaced on an ongoing basis), blood cells, food particles, other microorganisms, and other proteins normally found in saliva. Unfortunately, some of the bacteria that live in the human mouth create bad smelling sulfur compounds when they break down protein - compounds that we refer to as volatile sulfur compounds (VSC).

In instances where it’s caused by bacteria halitosis is literally the odor of VSC. Think of the smell of rotten eggs, or the sulfur whiff you get when you strike a match. These are sulfur compounds as well, although they are not necessarily caused by halitosis bacteria in these situations. People pretty much universally dislike the smell of sulfur, so to have it on your breath is a social problem.

Most of the halitosis bacteria live on the tongue, although they may also multiply between the teeth or in creases and pockets formed in the gums, especially in an unhealthy mouth. Poor oral hygiene and untreated gum disease are associated with foul mouth odor and bacteria halitosis. Bad breath is not always the result of lack of self-care however: healthy people who take good care of their teeth can have bad breath if they have lots of VSC producing bacteria living in their mouths.

In a simple uncomplicated case of bacteria halitosis, the key to getting rid of the odor is to get rid of the bacteria. Ideally, a bad breath remedy would selectively reduce the bacteria which produce VSC while allowing friendly non-VSC producing bacteria to move in and replace them. It’s important to have a healthy population of bacteria in the mouth because they actually keep our mouths clean and healthy for us. We can do without the halitosis bacteria, however.

Some over the counter remedies for bad breath aim to kill off VSC producing bacteria. Mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine and other antibacterial chemicals fall into this group. Natural remedies that claim to selectively wipe out halitosis bacteria are also popular. None of theses products provides a permanent cure for bad breath, however. When you stop using the product, the bacteria return, and so does bacteria halitosis.


      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Dogs Bad Breath

Have you ever wondered what is causing your dogs bad breath? It is probably caused by a buildup of tartar on his teeth, and possibly by advancing gum disease if the tartar has been building up, untreated, for a while. Throughout their lives, dogs get an accumulation of material called tartar on their teeth made up of mineral deposits, bacteria and tiny food particles. The bacteria break down the food particles and live on the rough surface of the mineral deposits.

When the bacteria break down protein molecules for nourishment, they cause dog bad breath by releasing sulfur compounds into the air. This is essentially the same process that happens in human mouths and causes bad breath, except that, in humans, the bacteria generally live on the tongue. Your dogs bad breath can be avoided by preventing the buildup of tartar on the teeth, or removing the tartar if it gets too bad.

Bad breath in dogs can be quite offensive: in serious cases, the sulfur odor is detectable throughout the house, and it is quite difficult to be near the dog. Dogs usually like a lot of attention, however, so it's equally difficult to stay away! Left untreated your dogs bad breath will destroy your relationship with her - it may even kill your dog. It may kill your dog because bacteria that are proliferating in the mouth can spread to other parts of the body or set up deep abscesses in the jaw area. Dog bad breath is a symptom of trouble brewing that you should not ignore. If it's serious and ongoing, take your dog to the vet.

Your veterinarian knows all about dog breath. He or she will probably be able to quickly examine the dog's teeth and tell you whether tartar is to blame. If the tartar is not too bad, the veterinarian may recommend a commercial product for tartar removal and treating dog bad breath. Or, it may be necessary to have the dog's teeth professionally cleaned. Sometimes tooth extraction is required, as bad breath in dogs is often accompanied by inflammation and infection of the gums, and loose teeth.

A word to the wise: if your dog is young, and you are just beginning to notice dog breath, start looking after your dog's teeth to avoid trouble later. Let him chew bones; buy her a toothbrush and get her used to you brushing, and keep a close eye on the teeth and gums.


Thursday, June 29, 2006

      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Causes of Halitosis

There are many causes of halitosis: bacteria flourishing in the mouth, gum disease, throat infection, objects lodged in the sinuses, various diseases, even some foods. Though foul smelling breath tends to make one something of a social outcast, in the majority of cases, bad breath is not the individuals fault, nor is it something they can do very much about. In fact, it is ironic that when bad breath happens as a direct result of something we have done, like eating garlic with lunch, that is the time when it is most likely to be forgiven.

One of the most unpleasant, and more common, halitosis causes is the activity of oral bacteria producing volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) in the back of the mouth. It is nobody's fault. You have millions of bacteria living in your mouth: everyone does. These bacteria belong to different species and many even have their own special niche in your mouth, like between the teeth, or clinging to the surface of the healthy cells that line your mouth. They are normal and healthy, and even help your body to fight off infections, but unfortunately, some of them are causes of halitosis.

Most of the offenders live on the tongue. The bacteria that produce VSC are anaerobes, that is, they live in the absence of oxygen. Even in a healthy mouth, the tongue, especially the back of the tongue, is an ideal environment for these causes of halitosis. They lie protected deep between the papillae, the projections that support the taste buds, and covered with a layer of cells, other bacteria, and non-living material. These microscopic halitosis causes are well protected in their niche and they are able to carry on their metabolic activities undisturbed, breaking down dead cells and other protein sources, and producing a bad smell in the breath. This process is one of the primary causes of halitosis.

Most people probably have VSC producers in their mouths, but they don't have enough of them to cause a breath problem. It follows then, that if having too many VSC producing bacteria is one of the main causes of halitosis, getting rid of most of them should be one of the main bad breath cures - and it is. Many over the counter and natural remedies for bad breath aim at killing bacteria in the mouth. Such remedies never kill all the bacteria, however (it would be a bad thing if they did, because then you would not have any friendly bacteria in your mouth to fight off infections), and if you stop using the remedy, the halitosis causes will rebound and the problem will be back.


      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Garlic Breath

Garlic is notorious for causing garlic breath. You don’t even have to eat the stuff – just get it on your fingers and it will be absorbed through the skin and appear on your breath in moments. Though widely admired for flavor and healthful properties, garlic is no friend to take on a date. (If you do eat it, try to make sure your companions are eating it too. You will cancel each other out.)

Garlic bad breath is basically caused by the same thing that causes the other common type of halitosis: sulfur. Molecules in the garlic combine to create sulfur molecules, which have an unpleasant odor detectable in the breath. In common halitosis, the sulfur compounds are produced by bacteria in the mouth, and this only makes the breath smell bad. Garlic breath, in contrast, usually goes along with an unpleasant odor in perspiration as well.

Of course, garlic bad breath is easy to avoid - just don't eat garlic. Many of us, however, enjoy garlic so much that we don't want to give it up. Spaghetti without garlic bread just isn't the same. So we need an antidote for garlic breath. The best antidote is time. In a day or two, usually less than twenty-four hours, the sulfur compounds will be cleared from the body and the odor will go away until next time. This is a pleasant contrast with halitosis caused by bacteria in the mouth, which are very difficult to get rid of.

Other approaches to dealing with garlic bad breath include masking the odor with perfume, deodorants, breath mints, and other scents. You can also chew on a clove or cardamom seed to cover the smell of garlic. Many people recommend chewing on a sprig of fresh parsley, or adding chopped fresh parsley to a dish at the end of cooking (so that the parsley doesn't cook). If you are taking garlic for health reasons, you can buy capsules that are odor free: they will not give you garlic breath.

When you have just enjoyed a meal full of delicious garlic, you may tend to keep your distance from family members and co-workers. You may be afraid to exhale, not being able to gauge the extent of your garlic bad breath. You may warn people not to come near. Remember though, that most people like garlic. Most people suffer from garlic breath from time to time. They understand, and they'll forgive you for your garlic breath.


      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Cat Bad Breath

Cat bad breath is not so different from human bad breath: it tends to be caused by the activities of bacteria in the mouth that break down proteins and release sulfur compounds into the air. Sulfur smells bad, so breath that contains sulfur compounds smells bad also. In cats, the bacteria that cause the problem tend to be associated with a buildup of tartar on the teeth. Tartar is a coating composed of food particles, bacteria, and minerals.

To cure cat bad breath, it's helpful to try to remove the tartar that has built up on the cat's teeth. Some pet foods are formulated to help reduce tartar by producing mechanical friction that scrapes tartar off, or by including an enzyme that helps to dissolve it. Pet treats are also commonly marketed as tartar fighters in one way or another. If the buildup of tartar on the cat's teeth is extensive, it might be necessary to pay to have a professional cleaning. When the tartar is removed, the cat bad breath should go away.

Some people are able to clean their cat's teeth at home. Animal toothpastes are available in meat flavors - the mechanical brushing is important for removing tartar, but some of these toothpastes also contain enzymes that dissolve the tartar, so just getting it on the teeth regularly will help a bit to cure cat bad breath. Toothbrushes and tooth scrapers are also available. It is a fortunate cat owner whose cat will tolerate this kind of attention: start early with your cat to prevent the buildup of tartar in the first place, and avoid cat bad breath later.

Another approach is to try to decrease the number of bacteria in the cat's mouth that are producing the bad smell. Just as chlorhexidine and other antibacterials are helpful for humans, these substances can be added to a pet's water or sprayed directly on the teeth to combat cat bad breath. Alternative products are also available that treat the problem by fighting the bacteria. These remedies don't remove the tartar however, so they won't permanently cure cat bad breath - a combination of a bacteria-fighting product, with a mechanical means of tartar removal might be the best approach.

Keep in mind that, like people, cats sometimes have an odor in the mouth that is not coming from the mouth: kidney and liver disease are two things that cause cat bad breath. Take you cat to your veterinarian if your cat has a consistent problem, so that a complete examination can be done. Even if the problem does originate in the mouth, treatment under the watchful eye of a veterinarian is important because problems in the mouth can lead to other serious health problems later. If you cure cat bad breath now, you may avoid trouble in the future.


Wednesday, June 28, 2006

      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Cure for Bad Breath

Finding a cure for bad breath (halitosis) really means finding a cure for whatever is causing the odor, and that is usually a group of bacteria living in the mouth that produce bad smelling compounds as part of their metabolism. Bacteria in the mouth, particularly those living near the back of the tongue, get nutrients by breaking down proteins, and give off volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), which make the breath smell bad.

When halitosis is caused by VSC, a bad breath cure will get rid of the bacteria that give off the VSC. That is why chlorhexidine, an antibacterial liquid, is often used to treat halitosis. Chlorhexidine is quite effective at killing oral bacteria, and it is added to oral rinses. Other antibiotics are sometimes used as a cure for bad breath, but the problem generally does not require prescription drugs.

Consult your dentist, doctor, or pharmacist, to discuss how to cure bad breath. These professionals have experience with the problem and have the most up-to-date information. They can advise you on the most recent advances in bad breath cures, and help you determine whether your halitosis is the bacterial kind, or whether it might be caused by something else. If the smell on your breath is not VSC, you need a different approach to a cure for bad breath.

Most people do have halitosis from time to time, but if there is an ongoing problem, a permanent bad breath cure is hard to find. Advice and over the counter remedies are common, however. Advice on how to cure bad breath will range from ways to cover up the bad smell with a stronger, more pleasant smell, to drugs that kill the bacteria in the mouth. Most over the counter products only treat the problem temporarily: some merely mask the odor without treating the underlying cause. When you stop using the cure for bad breath, the problem instantly returns.

With the rise in alternative methods of healing, new types of bad breath cure have become available. Some take an approach that aims at killing the VSC-producing bacteria without the use of antibiotic drugs, an approach that is appealing to many people. Again, if you have a chronic problem with halitosis, you will likely have to use a product on a ongoing basis. No one knows, yet, how to cure bad breath for good.


Tuesday, June 27, 2006

      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

How to Tell Someone They Have Bad Breath

Have you ever wondered how to tell someone they have bad breath? It’s a tricky problem, particularly if you don’t know the person very well. Having bad breath is something most people dread, and being told that one has it would be about as bad as being informed that you have head lice.

Before you spend time trying to figure out how to tell someone they have bad breath, consider that halitosis is sometimes temporary. It may be caused by something the person ate, an infection that will pass in a few days, or a habit like smoking. In these cases, it serves no purpose to embarrass the person by pointing out the problem. Leave it alone and it will probably go away.

If you’ve noticed that someone has frequent, or constant, bad breath, you probably are more than a casual acquaintance and may be in a position to say something. If you are not a close acquaintance, however, or the person is in a position of authority – your boss perhaps – leave it alone unless you’re certain you won’t suffer unfortunate consequences.

Depending on your relationship with the person, it might also be easier, and wiser, to talk privately with one of their close friends about how to tell someone they have bad breath. The friend may take the dilemma off your hands or suggest a good approach. You may also learn that your well-intended intervention is unnecessary – they already know (and most people with bad breath know they have it).

If you are determined to speak up and you really want to know how to tell someone they have bad breath, the best approach is to place yourself in their shoes – really put yourself there: try something like “Frank, I notice that you are suffering from something that I used to have a big problem with too.” Put it this way even if you have never had bad breath a day in your life, because it will make it seem like you are really trying to help instead of making an accusation or a criticism. If you’ve had it too, it’s not so bad that they have it.

Finally, if you decide to go ahead, it might be a good idea to educate yourself on available remedies for bad breath, so that you can offer suggestions, not just deliver the bad news.


      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Bad Breath Because of Tonsils

Bad breath because of tonsils is a different condition from bad breath caused by bacteria living on the tongue and breaking down cells and proteins naturally present in the mouth. When bacteria colonize and infect the tonsils, the condition is tonsillitis, and it is an infection that requires medical attention.

The bacteria that cause tonsillitis are almost always Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria - most people know the condition as strept throat. The infected tonsils become extremely inflamed, developing pockets of pus in the tonsillar crypts and causing an extremely sore throat, often accompanied by fever and vomiting. When the tonsil produces pus bad breath results. Bad breath because of tonsils has a rotten meat odor that is subtly different from the rotten egg sulfur smell produced in ordinary bad breath. In addition, the unfortunate person with tonsillitis generally feels extremely unwell and there is no doubt that something serious is going on.

Bad breath because of tonsils is not the worst consequence of strept throat. A greater danger is the risk of the infection being followed by scarlet fever, or rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart. Most cases of strept throat will get better on their own, but treatment with antibiotics prevents the other diseases from developing later. When a tonsil produces pus bad breath and fever, see your doctor and get a diagnosis. If you have strept throat, you will need an antibiotic.

Not all sore throats are caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, however - many sore throats are caused by viruses, or by bacteria that have no serious consequences. They simply cause misery for a few days, then they're gone. Your body's immune system should be able to take care of these transient infections and no antibiotic treatment is required. An infected tonsil produces pus bad breath generally only in strept throat; however, if you do get bad breath because of tonsils with a sore throat that is not caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, the problem should resolve when the sore throat does.

If you think you have bad breath because of tonsils, but you don't have a very sore throat, the chances are that the problem is not located on the tonsils, but on the tongue or in other areas of the mouth where sulfur compound-producing bacteria thrive. This is a different story altogether. If the problem is ongoing, see your dentist or doctor for a professional opinion, then tackle it with one of the many available remedies.


      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Bad Breath in Children

We usually associate bad breath, or halitosis, with adult breath, but bad breath in children certainly does occur. Perhaps it is less common because some of the conditions that favor the growth of anaerobic bacteria - the bacteria that produce foul smelling volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) - are uncommon in children. These bacteria can be present in children's mouths as well, however, and they can cause bad breath.

Sweet smelling bad breath in children, however, can be a sign of something more serious. Bad breath in children that has more of a sugary or fruity odor, rather than a rotten egg smell, is a symptom of ketoacidosis, a serious complication in diabetes. Ketoacidosis can be deadly, so if you notice a sweet smell on your child's breath, and the child seems at all unwell, a prompt visit to the doctor is in order. If the smell is very transient and the child has no other symptoms, the sweet smell may have been caused by a recently eaten food and is probably nothing to worry about.

Frequent bad breath in children, the rotten egg kind as opposed to sweet smelling bad breath in children, is probably caused by the same oral bacteria that cause halitosis in adults. In children, these bacteria are unlikely to be multiplying in airless pockets formed by gum disease, and are probably living almost exclusively on the surface of the tongue, nestled down between the taste buds and protected by a layer of other bacteria and non-living material. This is called a biofilm - a mixed community of organisms functioning together. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's unfortunate when the bacteria that produce VSC are a big part of the mix. They cause bad breath in children.

Frequent bad breath in children will respond best to efforts to reduce the number of anaerobic VSC-producing bacteria on the tongue. Gentle brushing of the tongue will remove many of them mechanically. Care should be taken not to be too enthusiastic however: too vigorous scraping or brushing of the tongue can do damage. Many over the counter remedies, and natural remedies are available; be sure to check whether your choice is recommended for bad breath in children. And remember, sweet smelling bad breath in children can be a sign of serious illness: don't try to treat this at home.


Monday, June 26, 2006

      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Home Remedies for Bad Breath

The most obvious of the home remedies for bad breath (halitosis) is simply attending to excellent oral hygiene. Brush your teeth after eating so that the surfaces of your teeth are clean and not coated with food that bacteria like to eat. Floss regularly to remove pieces of food that have gotten caught between the teeth - the secluded spaces between the teeth are a favorite hiding place for the bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), the worst of the smell producers in cases of halitosis. When you brush your teeth, brush your tongue too (not to hard; you don't want to make it sore) as many bacteria colonize the tongue. Have your teeth cleaned and your gum health checked regularly.

If you have an on-going problem , you might want to try some other home remedies for bad breath. The traditional ones include preparations that are aimed at killing the VSC producers and cleaning the mouth, and others that simply mask the odor on a temporary basis. Chronic bad breath home remedies require a commitment to using the remedy regularly on an ongoing basis.

Bad breath home remedies that mask the odor include chewing a peppermint leaf or a sprig of parsley, or holding a clove in your mouth. Chewing mint or cinnamon flavored chewing gum, eating sunflower seeds, rinsing with lemon juice and water, rinsing with salt water, and drinking hot tea are also recommended as home remedies for bad breath. Strategies for cleaning the mouth, probably better as chronic bad breath home remedies, include rinsing solutions made from hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and salt; just straight 3 percent hydrogen peroxide; or tiny amounts of Tea tree oil, an essential oil distilled from the leaves of the Australian Tea tree. These substances have some antibacterial properties - do not swallow them however: they are not meant to be taken internally.

A lot of scientific research remains to be done before we understand exactly how the bacterial population of the mouth works, even in healthy mouths. Home remedies for bad breath, therefore, don't have scientific data to back them up. We have to rely on the past experiences of others to judge whether any of the bad breath remedies are likely to work. In choosing chronic bad breath remedies, you might be better to choose a commercial product of some kind. Many of them do contain ingredients for which there is considerable scientific backing.

If you try several bad breath home remedies without success, consider consulting your doctor or dentist for a professional assessment of the problem.


      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Get Rid of Bad Breath

In many cases, you can get rid of bad breath by decreasing the population of volatile sulfur compound (VSC) producing bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria break down material in the mouth and produce foul smelling compounds as a byproduct. Having some of these bacteria is perfectly normal: having too many of them causes bad breath.

Bacteria that produce VSCs are usually anaerobes (bacteria that live in conditions where there is no oxygen). They are found in the airless places in the mouth: crevices, folds and pockets, and especially in the surface of the tongue, where they live deep between the taste bud-studded papillae. Getting rid of bad breath means getting into the hiding places where these bacteria multiply, and killing or removing them. To get rid of bad breath, you have to clean up your mouth.

For some people, it's just a matter of improved oral hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing, having dental and gum problems attended to, and cleaning of the tongue may be all it takes to get rid of bad breath. In more complicated cases, getting rid of bad breath may require the use of other products, such as mouthwashes, special toothpastes, or antibacterial solutions.

Some instances of bad breath are transient - merely the result of having eaten a particular food, such as garlic or fish. In these cases, time will get rid of bad breath for you - you have only to wait until your body processes the food and the odor on your breath will go away. If you are in hurry, breath mints or chewing on a bit of parsley can help with getting rid of bad breath of this type, or at least masking it until the problem runs its course.

At the other end of the spectrum, keep in mind that, in relatively rare instances, off-smelling breath is a sign of more serious disease. To get rid of bad breath caused by underlying disease, you need to see a doctor and get the problem diagnosed. Strept throat, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, even certain types of cancer can cause an odd odor in the breath. If you are not certain that the problem lies in the mouth, or if simple measures have no effect, of if you are feeling unwell in other ways, see your doctor for a medical examination before making further attempts at getting rid of bad breath on your own.


      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Causes of Bad Breath

What are the causes of bad breath? In more than 90 percent of cases, ongoing bad breath is caused by the activities of bacteria that are naturally present in the mouth. There are many different species of bacteria living in our mouths and they normally do us no harm; in fact, they are an integral part of a healthy mouth, helping to digest food and keeping more dangerous bacteria from making themselves at home. Bacteria live on the cells that line the mouth, in the plaque that builds up on the teeth, and in the saliva. They collectively create a biofilm in the mouth - a layer of material containing many different organisms, thriving together as a community.

Bacterial activities that can be a bad breath cause include the breaking down of dead epithelial cells (cells that line the inside of the mouth that are sloughed off and replaced frequently), blood cells, food particles, and proteins and other molecules found in saliva. Bacteria are the janitors of our mouths, but unfortunately, some of them create bad-smelling compounds that are causes of bad breath, while they do their work.

Certain species of bacteria are particular culprits in what causes bad breath. These are the anaerobes - bacteria that live in the absence of oxygen. When they break down substances in the mouth, they produce a byproduct, a bad breath cause known as volatile sulfur compounds. (Think of the rotten smell of sulfur, or even worse, hydrogen sulfide, which is the smell produced by a rotten egg.) There are several different volatile sulfur compounds produced by these bacteria and they are all causes of bad breath. They are detectable, and offensive, even when they are only present in relatively small amounts.

The anaerobic bacterial causes of bad breath thrive everywhere in the mouth where they are exposed to minimal amounts of oxygen: between the teeth (often in particles of food that have lodged there), between the papillae of the tongue (the little bumps that house the taste buds), in crevices and folds of the cheeks and gums, and in pockets formed between the teeth and gums in gum disease. The matrix (non-living substance) of the biofilm itself can shield them from oxygen. Often, what causes bad breath is some unhealthy situation in the mouth such as gum disease, that allows the anaerobic bacteria to multiply to unusual numbers.

So when you ask, "What are the causes of bad breath," you will get various answers: bacteria are part of what causes bad breath, but some other condition in the mouth is likely to be a contributing bad breath cause as well.


Friday, June 23, 2006

      Featured Resource: FREE TheraBreath Trial Offer

Welcome to Bad Breath Remedies, your source for information on the causes of and treatments for everything from mild bad breath to chronic halitosis. Here you will learn how to prevent the buildup of odor causing bacteria, and how to treat the problem if you or someone you know is faced with it.

We hope you find what you are looking for, and are able to achieve clean, fresh breath.

Regards,

The Editors