When thinking about curing bad breath, far too often we think about some mouthwash or dental rinse as the standard solution. While these conventional remedies are proven to kill the bacteria responsible for bad breath in 90% of the cases, it may still be necessary to complement this “cure” with mints and other products that mask symptoms. So why is it that some of us have such trouble when it comes to treating bad breath for more than a few hours at a time?
It is simply scientific fact that microorganisms, like those responsible for causing halitosis, tend to multiply very rapidly-especially when conditions are optimal.
For the anaerobic bacteria whose secretions create the odors that we associate with halitosis and bad breath, optimal conditions occur when we are dehydrated or suffering from xerostomia (dry mouth).
Many of the best bad breath cures available on pharmacy shelves are great when it comes to destroying populations of bacteria in your mouth. However, these so-called cures tend to work well for a few hours and then falter as the day wears on, leaving us susceptible to bad breath problems and the potential social embarrassment that accompany them. The same active ingredients in these bad breath solutions that work wonders on the offending bacteria populations also lead to dehydration and dry mouth. Some of these active ingredients include:
- Antiseptics with alcohol as active ingredient
- Chlorine Dioxide
- Zinc Oxidizing Agents
- Sodium Chlorite
A dry mouth is a big problem for anyone with halitosis problems because it means that the oral cavity is virtually defenseless against harmful microbes. Saliva helps reduce the anaerobic bacteria in your mouth throughout the day in a number of ways, including:
- Washes away the bacteria by-products (Volatile Sulfur Compounds) which become gaseous and are actually what we smell when thinking about bad breath
- Clears away the leftover food in the oral cavity not consumed while eating or removed by oral hygiene
- Indirectly lowers bacteria population by increasing oxygen in oral cavity which slows the reproductive rates of anaerobic bacteria and thus reduces the number of sulfur compounds and bad breath odors
- Directly lowers bacteria levels by helping produce antibodies that neutralize the offending microbes
So, unless the source of your bad breath is the tonsils or some disorder from within, saliva will help keep halitosis problems at bay by working effectively to keep the anaerobic population and the level of VSC’s to a minimum. Therefore, the best cure for your bad breath is already in your mouth but you just have to make sure that you don’t engage in behaviors or consume things that will lead to dehydration and xerostomia, such as:
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol or caffeinated products
- Using Stimulants
- Talking for prolonged periods
- Exercising without properly resting and rehydrating
Curing bad breath really is not possible as the anaerobic bacteria will always be in your mouth but you can naturally control the problem indirectly by ensuring proper levels of salivation in your mouth and avoiding anything-including some bad breath products-that may cause dehydration.
