The Truth About Bad Breath and Bacteria

With few exceptions, the cause of bad breath is bacteria. In some of the cases, the halitosis is a result of gum disease or some tooth decay. However, bacteria living at the back of the tongue and in other cracks and crevices of the oral cavity are most likely the true cause of halitosis. Like any living organism, the bacteria defecate and their waste products cause the odors we associate with bad breath. Therefore, curing bad breath ultimately boils down to lowering the population of bacteria in your mouth.

In all reality, the best bad breath medicine is already produced by our bodies: saliva. Yes, our saliva will prevent bad breath by helping control the bacteria population in these three ways:

• Saliva contains enzymes that stimulate production of antibodies that help control oral bacteria
• Saliva washes away food particles (helps lower waste production and keeps population lower) and the actual waste products themselves
• Saliva is rich in oxygen (the anaerobic bacteria responsible for halitosis do not breed rapidly in well-oxygenated environments)

As saliva is so very critical to any bad breath treatment, you want to avoid anything that causes dehydration, such as: alcohol, caffeine/stimulants, medication, smoking, and excessive exercise/talking. Be sure to compensate for any medications that may cause dehydration (pain killers, antidepressants, and many beta blockers are known to cause dehydration and dry mouth) by consuming more than the daily recommended 1/2 ounce of water for every pound of body weight.

Because bacteria breed faster in low-oxygen environments, they tend to hide in plaque-a thin layer that forms on teeth and soft tissue in the oral cavity. Brushing and flossing is all that you have to do in order to remove the plaque and bacteria. However, if you skip your morning oral hygiene, the bad breath problem will worsen as the bacteria population grows larger. In time, the layer of plaque will ossify and become tartar-and then you will need to see a dentist in order to treat your bad breath problem!

To starve the bacteria and effectively stop bad breath, simply be sure and brush in between meals. This will remove the excess food particles that the bacteria feed upon. Then, to stimulate salivation and prevent bad breath throughout the day, simply chew on some sugarless gum or candy every few hours. It may not be rocket science-but it is effective bad breath prevention!

While it is possible to develop bad breath on a low carb diet due to problems with dehydration and dry mouth, the majority of halitosis problems are caused by oral bacteria. By controlling the bacteria through effective oral hygiene, brushing in between meals, and keeping saliva levels high, you can control both bad breath and bacteria populations and end the embarrassment and social shame of halitosis.

If you are looking for a safe and effective all natural remedy for bad breath, then try OraMD®® today!