Bad breath is one of the most embarrassing and most annoying problems to have. If not treated properly, beastly breath could interfere with your work life and social life, not to mention your sex life.
“One of the most common misconceptions is that halitosis is caused by the foods you eat,” said Gordon Douglass, D.D.S., president of the American Academy of Periodontology. “Actually, bad breath can be caused by the sulfur compounds released from our digestive process.”
Anaerobic bacteria that live within the surface of the tongue and throat break down proteins in food, blood and diseased oral tissue. When these bacteria come in contact with certain amino acids in proteins, sulfur compounds are released from the back of the tongue and throat causing your yuck mouth.
While many manufacturers promote home remedies to tame the beast, they only mask the problem or have the potential to cause more harm. The only way to rid yourself of the beastly breath is to find its source.
“The only full-proof way of eliminating halitosis is to see your periodontist or dentist to determine the cause,” said Douglass. “There could be many factors at play, such as gum disease, a dry mouth or certain medical conditions.” He added, “Many home remedies exacerbate the problem or are just temporary fixes. You should see a specialist to determine the most effective treatment.”
The American Academy of Periodontology asked its members for the most ineffective home remedies their patients have used to tackle yuck mouths.
1. Excessive use of mouthwash. Produces sloughy, stinky tissue that is worse than what your breath is already like.
2. Breath mints. A sweet smelling mouth doesn't mean a healthy mouth. Long-lasting sugar candies subject teeth to acid attacks, increasing your risk for cavities.
3. Chewing gum. Chewing gum can increase salivary flow, but only masks bad breath. Try drinking water throughout the day instead.
4. Mint chew tobacco. Smokeless tobacco causes gums to recede and increases the chance of losing the bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place, and more importantly, causes oral cancer.
5. Infomercial Items. Only use items that have the ADA Seal of Approval. Unapproved items could do more harm than good.
6. Vodka martinis or sour mash whiskey. Alcohol may further the problem by making your mouth dry, whereby saliva is unable to remove oral bacteria.
7. Brushing with cleanser. Many chemicals used for household cleaning are poisonous and should not be consumed – this is one of them.
8. Intestinal cleansing methods. Bad breath does not originate from the stomach. Actually, anaerobic bacteria in your mouth produce smelly sulfur compounds that cause bad breath.
9. Rinsing with kerosene. Talk about putting your mouth on fire!
10. Tongue piercing. Anything that allows you to harbor more bacteria on your tongue, like tongue jewelry, increases your chance of bad breath.
A referral to a periodontist in your area and free brochure samples are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP's Web site at www.perio.org.
About the AAP
The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for periodontists—specialists in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also dentistry’s experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. They receive three additional years of specialized training following dental school, and periodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAP has 8,000 members worldwide.
Help, my boyfriend's breath smells like something has died. Seriously, it's THAT BAD
Image courtesy of Getty Images
It's gross I know. Kissing someone who's breath stinks like something has died is horrible. And mints can only mask the problem for so long.
I guess it's small comfort to know that almost half the adult population of the US and, as claimed in Japan more than half the adult population suffers from bad breath. Doesn't help you to know these facts when he's puckering up, ready for that goodnight tongue fest.
And then I guess it doesn't comfort you to know that the root cause of the smell of a dead thing inside someone's mouth is caused by a chemical called CADAVERINE.
(click here for wiki's definition of cadaverine)
Cadaverine is a colorless evil-smelling molecule that forms when animal tissue putrefies, otherwise know as rotting. You might notice that cadaverine is derived from the word cadaver, meaning corpse. So, your boyfriend most likely has some rotting food...more than likely meat...in his mouth.
Get him to brush his teeth properly and he absolutely has to floss too. Make sure he flosses thoroughly.
How do you tell him in a nice way to do this? Tricky, very tricky this one.
But here's a few ways NOT to tell him that his breath stinks like a dead animal:
1. Just before he's about to kiss you, put a clothes peg on your nose and say...ok then I'm ready!
2. Instead of calling him 'my honeykins', calling him 'yo barf breath, wanna hang out tonight?"
I say you use the magic formula "kiss + kiss + slap", which is shorthand for saying 'two compliments + home truth'
So it's
1 x compliment: honey, you look so sexy tonight
1 x compliment: and my friends think you're sexy too
1 x home truth: you know sometimes, your breath ain't quite so fresh, maybe you should think about flossing a little more?
I don't know if this will work, but try it and let me know!!!
Damon Wayans on bad breath
Damon Wayans has always been my favorite Wayans brother, even though, or maybe because he looks like the moodiest one. Anyway, this video is not going to give you any bad breath cures, but it's kinda funny viewing so enjoy
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