In laboratory studies extracts from green tea were mixed with the bacteria associated with bad breath, and was effective at fighting the bacteria’s growth by inhibiting its growth. Toothpaste with green tea extracts was shown to eliminate bad breath bacteria AND kill off viruses in the mouth too.

Black tea was shown to stop plaque from forming and destroys acids that cause tooth deacay.

So there may be toothpastes and mouthwashes on the market in the very near future that contain the extracts of tea!

(Unfortunately, it has to be green tea or black tea, a good old cuppa won’t have the same effect!)

bad breath

Excess ammonia compounds in an exhaled breath may signal liver and kidney disease, elevated acetone levels can indicate diabetes and nitric oxide levels can imply asthma.

Scientists have recently come up with the ‘Breathalyzer’ which blasts a person’s breath with a laser light and detects molecules that may indicate the presence of such diseases.

Laser light can detect and distinguish specific molecules because different molecules vibrate and rotate at distinct frequencies that depend on their composition and structure.

So it should become easier to find out if your persistant bad breath is a sign of poor health rather than poor dental hygiene.

bad breath

FRESH PARSLEY Chew this herb in small amounts. What science says Anecdotally famous for removing garlic breath, there is no research suggesting that it can help with that or halitosis. Like many plants parsley does have some antibacterial properties, a possible but unproven link to curing bad breath.

MASTIC GUM A natural resin taken from the Pistacia lentiscus tree on the Greek island of Chios is said to have antiseptic properties and to decrease acidity in the mouth.
What science says Two studies found that chewing mastic gum reduced the amount of mouth bacteria. However, the researchers did not measure bad breath, so it’s impossible to say whether fewer bacteria also meant less halitosis.

ANTIBACTERIAL MOUTHWASHES These are said to swill away the bacteria that cause bad breath. Many also have antiplaque properties, so are kind to your teeth too.
What science says As bacteria produce most bad breath, an antibacterial mouthwash can reduce the problem.

“LIVE” YOGHURT Live yoghurt is said to decrease levels of hydrogen sulphide, the smelly gas produced by bacteria in the mouth, through the action of the live bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.
What science says There are no published studies on whether the bacteria in yoghurt can minimise bad breath. But how do you use it? Paste it on your gums? or eat it with strawberries?

BAKING SODA Brushing teeth with baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda, is meant to counteract high levels of acidity in the mouth, a possible cause of bad breath.
What science says Research published between 1996 and 1998 found that brushing with toothpaste containing 20 per cent baking soda reduced bad breath for up to three hours.

PEPPERMINT OIL Capsules of peppermint oil may keep your breath minty fresh.
What science says A study in July last year of 32 intensive care patients showed that an essential oil mouthwash, with peppermint oil in its list of ingredients, reduced bad breath.

FENNEL SEEDS Chewing on fennel seeds after a meal is a traditional way of masking mouth odours.
What science says There are no studies of the impact of fennel seeds on bad breath, but extracts of fennel do have some antibacterial properties. As bad breath is caused by some mouth bacteria it may have an effect.

bad breath

‘Myrrh
In the ancient world, resin of myrrh with its reddish brown color, was employed to mummify corpses, preserve mummies.

Myrrh was used widely as a remedy for a variety of infections, such as syphilis and leprosy. Ancient herbal doctors also suggested myrrh to treat bad breath and to help improve dental health.

Three important constituents of myrrh are the resin, the gum, and the volatile oil. These three are considered to be key to its ability to provide medicinal qualities.

Another feature of myrrh is its astringent qualities, which can help sooth inflammation in the throat and mouth. When used as indicated, myrrh is a perfectly safe herb to use.’ http://myherbalhealth.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/herbs-to-stop-bad-breath/

Sounds excellent!

But can anybody tell me where to buy it? And how to use it???

Has anybody tried it?

thanks

bad breath

And Christmas may be the perfect time to get the relationship going….

There’s the ‘office party’ kiss, the ‘under the misletoe’ kiss, the ‘happy christmas’ kiss, and the ‘new year’ kiss…. so plenty of opportunities to kiss!

But, one thing that will kill any chance of the kiss developing from a peck on the cheek to a passionate kiss is … bad breath.

Bad breath is a passion killer.

It may be just temporary bad breath due to onions, garlic or alcohol and may be masked with mouthwash or chewing gum.

But many people suffer from chronic bad breath.

A survey by the British Dental Association found that 20 per cent of people described their partner as having bad breath, and 42 per cent said friends and colleagues had it, too.

But the fact that you’re not alone won’t get you that Christmas Kiss!

bad breath

People often use chewing gum and mints to battle bad breath. However, those products only temporarily mask the odor of bad breath, which is caused by bacteria. Existing anti-bacterial products for bad breath are far from ideal, with some having side effects like tooth staining.

The new study tested the bacteria-killing power of magnolia bark extract using saliva samples taken from volunteers following a regular meal. Mints containing the extract killed more than 61 percent of the germs that cause bad breath within 30 minutes the researchers say.

The sweet magnolia bark extract also showed strong antibacterial activity against a group of bacteria known to cause cavities.

Mints, chewing gum, toothpaste and mouthwash containing the magnolia extract may be further researched and available soon.

bad breath

Here are a variety of natural cures for bad breath-

• Drinking plenty of water daily will help to control bad breath. Dehydration will reduce the salivary flow, which minimizes the saliva’s cleansing effects on bacteria which is a cause of bad breath.
• Clean your tongue with a special tongue scraper in order to remove bacteria.
• Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Use an odorless form of supplement.
• Zinc has an antibacterial effect and boosts the immune system.
• Bee Propolis aids in healing the gums and controls infection.
• Maluka honey is a natural antibiotic too.
• Gargle with a glass of water which has the juice of half a lemon added.
• Brushing your gums and tongue with powdered cloves is another herbal mixture for bad breath.
• A natural deodorizer is parsley, and cardamom seeds help to sweeten the breath.
• Another bad breath reducer is fennel tea. The compounds that are found in the tea can decrease bacteria growth that causes bad breath.
• Cranberries fight offensive-smelling bacteria.
• Eat a green raw Guava in order to fight against bad breath.
• Cloves can be kept under the molars without chewing in order to keep your breath fresh.
• Eating oranges and citrus fruits, which are high in vitamin C can help control the bacteria population.
• Eucalyptus Oil has an active antiseptic ingredient (Eucalyptol) and can be found in many toothpastes and oral hygiene products.

For more information, visit http://www.badbreathcure.co.uk/

bad breath

Some chefs swear by stainless steel’s ability to remove the smell of fish, onion and garlic from their hands, and any of that effectiveness might be due to the smelly sulfur of those fragrant foods binding with one or more of the metals in stainless steel.

Well, that scientific principle had been brought to the bad breath arena in the form of Zilopop.

Zilopop is about the size of a usb memory stick and can be carried on your key ring. The idea is that the stainless steel disc is used like a lollipop and will freshen the breath by destroying the sulfur compounds in the mouth.

They will be available for sale soon.

Let me know if Zilopop works!

bad breath

First of all we have to understand what lactose intolerance is.

Firstly, lactose is a sugar, which is found in milk and other dairy products. After these foods are eaten, the lactose will be metabolized (broken down) by an enzyme known as lactase. Unfortunately, sometimes the body does not produce lactase or there is decreased production of lactase in the body. When this happens, it will result in gastric problems and the lactose will not be broken down in the gastrointestinal tract.

When the lactose is not broken down due to the absence of the enzyme lactase, this will result in symptoms which are similar to stomach virus and hence it is difficult to discern whether the person is suffering from lactose intolerance or stomach flu.

Usually, it is only through examining each individual’s medical history and different tests that it is determined that the culprit is lactose intolerance. If you suspect that you are suffering from lactose intolerance, do share with your doctor the list of specific foods that cause you to feel uncomfortable. This will help your doctor to make a diagnosis sooner.

The signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance are nausea, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and an exceptionally bad breath.

These symptoms occur because the body is not accepting the lactose. Usually, the symptoms will start to clear up once the lactose is removed from the body. Among the most significant symptom is the occurrence of very foul breath. It can be so bad that your friends around you can smell it even if they are many feet away.

Typically, people would assume that the individual is suffering from poor oral hygiene but in reality the individual is suffering from lactose intolerance.

The lactose when ingested by lactose intolerant individuals results in gastric symptoms mentioned above and the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract acts upon the lactose rich foods and results in fermentation that produces foul smelling gas. This gas unfortunately is exhaled out through the lungs and that is how bad breath and lactose intolerance are connected.

The connection between lactose intolerance and halitosis can be further confirmed through a hydrogen breath test.

Normally there is a very little amount of hydrogen present in the breath but in a lactose intolerant individual who has ingested lactose rich foods, the hydrogen content is going to be much higher than the normal. This shows that the lactose is not broken down properly.

After you have understood the connection between bad breath and lactose intolerance, you may be wondering how did you become lactose intolerant in the first place. That answer lies in your genes. Lactose intolerance can also occur with the advancing age. So if you find out that you are having halitosis and unable to find any apparent cause to it, then you must look into lactose intolerance as this might be the culprit causing this problem.

The simple reason is: the wrong mouthwash does more harm than good for your oral health and your bad breath.

Every mouthwash will make your mouth feel fresh and clean instantly,but the wrong ingredients may affect your dental health in the long term.

A bad mouthwash will only mask the bad breath temporarily without addressing the root cause of the bad breath.

On the other hand, a good mouthwash will give you the desired freshness, plus it will help you to eliminate the problem of bad breath.

A good mouthwash will provide you simultaneous protection against oral diseases like gingivitis and will prevent the plaque build up.

The difference between a good mouthwash and a bad mouthwash is down to the ingredients.

First of all, the mouthwashes most commonly use such flavoring agents as Eucalyptol, Thymol, Menthol and Methyl Salicylate. All these agents are used to get rid of the smell of cigarettes and they cause you no harm.

Then the ingredients such as Cetylpyridinium Chloride and Chlorhexidine Gluconate fight against plaque build ups and gingivitis. However, you have to wait half an hour before you gargle with a mouthwash containing  Chlorhexidine Gluconate, if you have already used another dental product eg toothpaste.

Various antiseptic agents like Benzalkonium Chloride are also added to most of the commercial mouthwashes.

Now all these above mentioned ingredients are more or less safe with their restricted application into the mouthwash.

But the ingredient that may prove to be really harmful is alcohol. Alcohol is by nature a drying agent that dries up your mouth tissues and leads to the generation of anaerobic bacteria responsible for creating bad breath.

So mouthwashes containing alcohol may actually make bad breath worse by creating the perfect environment for anaerobic bacteria to thrive.

An oxygenating mouthwash can be the ideal solution for bad breath. An Oxygen rich oral rinse will drive out the sulfur compounds generated by anaerobic bacteria and prevent their growth.

bad breath