National Fresh Breath Day - August 6th

Courtesy of JasonLove.com

Today's National Fresh Breath Day! Are you about excited as I am? In celebration of NFBD, we'll discuss what more than 80 million people are experiencing...bad breath. The more technical term is halitosis (hal-i-toh-sis), which mostly originates from our gums and tongue.

When it comes to determining what causes halitosis, anything goes! For many of us, bacteria, decaying food, and other debris cause bad breath. There are also medical reasons that lead to bad breath such as a medical infections, kidney problems, liver malfunction, xerostomia (dry mouth) and diabetes. But truly, anything can lead to this embarrassing condition such as stress, dieting, snoring, age, and hormone changes.

But it's not all from within, foods that we consume also influence the harshness of our breath. Spicy foods (onions and garlic) and coffee typically have their odorous effects for 72 hours after consumption. There have even been studies where garlic was rubbed in subjects' feet and then detected in their breath!

Since nearly anything can cause bad breath, how do we combat such a putrid opponent? Our number one weapon is our spit! Saliva washes away all the bacteria and food debris, leaving us a nice neutral mouth. However, when we're snoozing, the amount of saliva entering the mouth decreases which leads to the wonderful "morning mouth". Morning mouth is the result of our fasting while we sleep. It's important to note that for individuals who skip breakfast, bad breath will reappear even after brushing in the morning! So don't skip breakfast if you want fresh breath.

Other ways to combat halitosis are:

• Rule of 2's: Brush and floss twice a day, brush for two minutes, and visit your dentist at least two times a year.
• Remember to brush your tongue and cheeks as well. Consider buying a tongue scrapper to help remove remnants on your tongue. 
• Chewing sugar-free gum may also help control bad breath.
• If you wear dentures, retainer, or a removable partial, remember to always thoroughly clean it everyday before and after wearing. 
• With respect to mouthwashes, check with your dentist. Some washes only mask the smell and some are more superior than others. 

 I wish you all a wonderful Fresh Breath Day!

To fresh breath,
Dr. Lynda Tran