TypewriterFrom The Urbach Letter – October 2007

Return to Archive

DragonBreathThe Science of Bad Breath
Have you ever been in a close conversation with somebody with really bad breath… the kind of breath that would “knock a buzzard off a dung wagon?” You couldn't wait to break away for some fresh air. But did you indicate to the odiferous person that he or she was grossing you out? Most of us wouldn't say anything. We'd be too embarrassed (but justify our silence by rationalizing that we didn't want to make the other person uncomfortable).

But what happens when the smelly shoe is on *your* foot? Everybody has bad breath from time to time -- and we're usually unaware when we do. What's worse, some estimates indicate that 40% of the population has *chronic* bad breath. It's virtually impossible to smell your own breath, and you're dependent on the kindness of loved ones to clue you in; friends, co-workers, and other casual acquaintances will be too "polite" to tell you. That's a problem. Multi-million dollar business deals have soured, love affairs ended, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities vanished –- all because of bad breath. On the surface, it's not rational, but human beings are unconsciously affected by smells. It has something to do with the limbic system –- our ancient mammalian brain parts –- that links emotions to positive (and in this case) negative odors.

Sometimes you know the reason. Perhaps you've recently eaten a spicy, garlicky meal. (My wife and I have an agreement to both eat garlic at the same time, so we cancel each other out.) Very often, however, the cause is seemingly unknown. Understanding the "science" of bad breath will help you know when you're likely to have "silent" bad breath, and can take corrective action before major social damage occurs.

A primary source of breath odor are the volatile sulfur compounds given off by bacteria in your mouth. Of course, bacteria are always in our mouths. However these little guys vary greatly in their activity. Causes of increased volatile-sulfur compound activity include stress, gum disease, food debris, and dry mouth. Other factors associated with bad breath are diabetes, smoking, drinking alcohol in excess, mouth breathing, nasal conditions, allergies, and certain foods. The SEJU Engineering Kiss Me Meter works by actually measuring the level of these volatile sulfur compounds and hydrocarbon gasses in your mouth.

Know your alliums. Onions and garlic and other allium vegetables (leeks, chives, shallots, etc.) produce pungent amine compounds which enter our bloodstreams and are eliminated from the lungs during respiration, and often from the pores of the skin as well. However, there are many health benefits associated with eating these foods, and they taste great too. Fortunately, you have some control over your food choices, and can ask to "hold the onions" prior to an important social engagement.

Dry mouth is a very common cause of bad breath (particularly morning mouth). We need to produce copious amounts of saliva to wash away food bits and excess bacteria. When saliva production is reduced, because of dehydration, environmental conditions, some medications, or disease, the stagnant debris and bacteria causes a very unpleasant odor. Drinking lots of water is always a good idea, for a variety of health reasons, in addition to fighting bad breath. Daily flossing and thorough tooth brushing are essential to remove excess bacteria.

The back of your tongue is a hotbed of bacteria. Sorry. I know that's gross. However, you may want to consider brushing your tongue or using a tongue scraper/cleaner, particularly if you're getting negative feedback about your breath. You should know that breath mints, gum, mouthwash, and toothpaste can temporarily mask bad breath but will rarely cancel it out entirely. Severe cases of bad breath (halitosis) require treatment by a dentist or specialist.

Here is a list of bad breath do's and don'ts, prepared by Professor Mel Rosenberg, of Tel Aviv University:

Do's

  • Visit your dentist regularly.

  • Have your teeth cleaned periodically by a dental professional.

  • Floss or otherwise clean between your teeth, as recommended by your dentist. Choose unscented floss so that you can detect those areas between your teeth that give off odors, and clean them more carefully.

  • Brush your teeth and gums properly.

  • Ask your dentist to recommend a toothbrush or scraper for your tongue. Clean your tongue all the way back gently, but thoroughly.

  • Drink plenty of liquids.

  • Chew sugar-free gum for a minute or two at a time, especially if your mouth feels dry. Chewing parsley, mint, cloves or fennel seeds may also help.

  • Clean your mouth after eating or drinking milk products, fish and meat.

  • Unless your dentist advises otherwise, soak dentures overnight in antiseptic solution.

  • Get control over the problem. Ask a family member to tell you whenever you have bad breath.

  • If someone in your family or a close friend has bad breath, find a kind way to let them know. If you can't tell them directly, leave some info lying around. They may get the message.

  • Ask your dentist to recommend a mouthwash which has been shown to be clinically effective in fighting bad breath.

  • Use mouthwash most effectively right before sleeping.

  • Eat fresh, fibrous vegetables such as carrots.

Don'ts

  • Don't let your concern about having bad breath run your life. Don't be passive.

  • Don't be depressed. Get help. Don't ignore your gums -- you can lose your teeth as well as smell bad.

  • Don't drink too much coffee -- it may make the situation worse.

  • Don't forget to clean behind the back teeth in each row.

  • Don't brush your tongue with regular toothpaste -- it's better to dip your toothbrush in mouthwash for tongue cleaning.

  • Don't run to the gastroenterologist for concerns of having bad breath -- it usually comes from the mouth and almost never from the stomach.

  • Don't give mouthwash to very young children, as they can swallow it.

  • Don't clean your tongue so hard that it hurts.

  • Don't rely on mouthwash alone -- practice complete oral hygiene.

Well, there you have it. Perhaps a bit more than you wanted to know about the subject. Nonetheless, I hope that by distributing this article, I've helped to make the world a little less stinky. By the way, if you're a long-time Urbach Letter subscriber, you may recall I first published this piece about 4 years ago.

Return to Archive

(c) Copyright 2002-2010 Victor Urbach
This article
may be reprinted with permission and attribution