About Bad Breath

According to dental studies, approximately 85% of people with persistent bad breath (also known as halitosis) can blame a dental condition such as gum disease, cavities, poor oral hygiene, oral cancer or bacteria on the tongue.  Other causes of bad breath might include respiratory tract infections, dry mouth caused by salivary gland problems, systemic illnesses such as diabetes, specific foods such as onions and garlic, and use of tobacco products and alcohol.  Some types of bad breath, such as “morning mouth” are considered to be fairly normal and are not necessarily a health concern.  For the majority of bad breath conditions, good oral hygiene habits can reduce or eliminate such problems.

Persistent bad breath is also one of the warning signs of gum disease.  Poor oral hygiene habits allow plaque and tartar to accumulate on the teeth and the bacteria found in plaque and tartar also produce volatile sulfur compounds as a by-product of their metabolism.  These compounds are a family of sulfur-based foul smelling gases produced from decaying organic matter which are the primary constituents of halitosis.  These same compounds are the facilitators that help damaging bacteria penetrate the skin inside the mouth and attack the tissue connecting tooth to bone and eventually attack the bone itself resulting in severe periodontal disease.  Along the way, inflamed and bleeding gums plus deepening periodontal pockets are created.

For most conditions, bad breath can be eliminated with the following routine:

• Brush your teeth at least twice per day using a soft bristled brush, brushing along the gum line as well as all tooth surfaces.  Each brushing should last for approximately two minutes.
• When done brushing your teeth, use the toothbrush to brush and clean the surface of your tongue.
• Floss your teeth at least once per day to remove food from between your teeth.
• Avoid mouth washes that contain alcohol.  These products simply “mask” the problem for a short period of time and dry out the mouth leading to greater production of volatile sulfur compounds.
• Use an alcohol-free mouth rinse that contains zinc.  Zinc stops an enzyme from breaking down an amino acid that creates the sulfur compounds.
• See your dentist at least twice per year to have your teeth cleaned.
• If you still have bad breath, see your family doctor to find out what is causing it.

Perfect Smile’s Q-litol™ products were created to address the issues surrounding gum disease and bad breath.  We use xylitol in all our products which helps to kill the bad bacteria that cause plaque to form on our teeth.  We do not use sugars or artificial sweeteners in any of our products and, in fact, our chewing gums are actually good for you since they help to create saliva flow while freshening your breath and cleaning your teeth surfaces.  Perfect Smile’s alcohol-free Mouth Rinse also contains zinc lactate to aid in the destruction of volatile sulfur compounds that are the primary cause of bad breath.

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