What the Heck Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath is a national tragedy. More than likely, a world-wide problem. Its causes are legion and there is a wealth of information on how to cure it – most of it is, unfortunately, wrong.
Listen. I don’t want to scare you, but there are bacteria in the back of your mouth that are the culprits. We will try to bring them to justice here.
Anaerobic is a big word for without air. Air is, of course, oxygen which we need to survive. The microbes in your mouth are completely natural and assist in the process of digestion. They do not need oxygen and some of them produce foul odors as they interact with foods containing amino acids.
These foul odors are called volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) and they are released in the back of the throat and tongue as the bacteria interact with the amino acids.
They may even be in your tonsils assuming they were not removed.
Remember, VSCs smell like rotten eggs.
Another bad smelling compound is methyl mercaptan which smells like used gym socks. Uhg!
Don’t forget cadaverine and putrescine which smells like rotting garbage. Yuc!
Thee are others, but I think you get the picture, don’t you?
No wonder you have bad breath.
The only way to cure bad breath is to alter the ecology inside your mouth and make it environmentally better
Here are some of the bad breath triggers that cause bad breath and halitosis:
• Special types of diets (i.e. high protein diets)
• Excessive use of discredited oral products (containing Sodium Lauryl sulphate and alcohol) – Are there any in your medicine cabinet?
• Excess mucus in the throat
• A diet high in proteins (red meat, beans, dairy foods)
• Dry mouth
• Post nasal drip
• Smoking
• Thick saliva
• Hormonal changes
• Diabetes
• Side effects of Medications (anti-histamines, anti-depressants, high blood pressure medications, etc.)
• Alcohol (Have you checked your mouthwash lately?)
How about foods containing garlic and onions?
Yes, they do cause bad breath and have nothing to do with the bacteria in your mouth. Garlic and onions and a variety of spicy foods also contain sulfur compounds – mercaptans. They really stink and are very offensive.
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