Post-Nasal Drip and Its Effect on Bad Breath

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Post Nasal Drip and Nasal-Sinus Congestion Will Transform
a Case of 'Normal' Breath into BAD Breath and 'Bad' Breath
into HORRIBLE Breath!

Bad Breath is very closely related to post nasal drip,excess mucus, sinus problems, your tonsils, and
tonsiloliths.

The bacteria which cause bad breath and sour/bitter/metallic tastes are anaerobic (live without oxygen). Their goal in life is to break down the proteins in foods that we eat. However, under certain conditions, they will also start to break down the proteins found in mucus and phlegm.

Therefore, those people who suffer from post nasal drip, sinus problems, and other such ailments are more prone to bad breath and lousy tastes because the bacteria use the mucus as a food source and start to extract sulfur compounds from the amino acids that make up the proteins found in all this excess mucus.

Scientifically, the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath "love" the amino acids Cysteine and Methionine, which are the building blocks of the proteins that are found in mucus (and phlegm) and in dairy foods, too. In fact, many people notice that when they drink too much milk or eat too much cheese they end up with more mucous or phlegm in their throat. This is a natural reaction for many people and unfortunately, ends up causing more bad breath and lousy taste.

If you still have your tonsils, you may be harboring a higher number of the bacteria which can lead to an
"interesting" and very often misunderstood phenomenon, called TONSILOLITHS. Literally translated, they are "tonsil stones" produced by the conglomeration of mucus draining down the back of the throat and the volatile sulfur compounds created by the bacteria which easily end up in the "nooks and crannies" of the tonsils, every time one swallows. I can't tell you how many stories I've heard from my patients who asked their dentist what these objects were, and more often than not the answer was 'food particles'. This couldn't be further from the truth!

Medication and Drugs MAY help Prevent Post-Nasal Drip, But At What Cost?

There are dozens of different over-the counter nasal decongestants and antihistamines you can use to help relieve congestion and dry up excess mucus, and some of them are very good at what they claim but mostly they are TOO GOOD! They create an extremely dry mouth, which exacerbates bad breath. And even in cases where the dry mouth side effect is minimal, when you stop taking that medication the problem comes back, and almost always with a vengeance! This is because in some cases, your body will actually develop a resistance to any antihistamines or nasal decongestants, especially nasal sprays (be careful, because
many sprays are habit forming!)

Suffice it to say, this should NOT be an option that you pursue.

Use a Nasal-Irrigator to Flush Your Sinuses free from Excess Mucus

Nasal Irrigation is probably the most effective method of eliminating post-nasal drip and helping to control sinus infections. A short period of regular use can stimulate the cilia (the tiny hair-like fibers in the nasal sinus passages) to restore their natural protective "sweeping & cleansing" action.

When you feel a sinus condition come on, or feel that you have persistent post-nasal drip and excess mucus, consistent daily use for 10 days should result in a clearing of the condition.

Stop Bad Breath Associated with Post-Nasal Drip, Excess Mucus, and Sinus Problems

For people who don't really have sinus problems, just "off and on" or seasonal post-nasal drip, then an alternative (and better) solution might be to minimize the amount of excess mucus in the back of the throat and more importantly to make sure you neutralize the odor caused by this excess mucus.

You see, the proteins in mucus make an excellent food source for the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath. The bacteria feed off the amino acids, Methionine and Cysteine, and create extremely odorous and lousy-tasting Volatile Sulfur Compounds as by-products, which are the odors and lousy tastes found in the medical condition halitosis, which YOU (or maybe everyone around you) more commonly knows as bad breath.

When I first started treating my own daughter's breath problem 10 years ago, I never dreamed that I would end up helping so many people all over the world who had the same problem, which my fellow dentists ignored or misdiagnosed for far too long. It was only a few years into our clinical therapy that I realized that "Every case of bad breath is different and that there is no such thing as one formula to
treat every case of halitosis."

For a decade now, we've been here to help our patients prevent bad breath, sinus congestion, and lousy
tastes. If there is anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to contact us - that's why we're here!

Uncover the REAL Causes of Bad Breath!
Dr. Harold Katz, founder of the California Breath Clinics,
is a worldwide expert on the topics of bad breath,
halitosis and dry mouth.

His 'Bad Breath Bible' is an easy-to-read guide to help
YOU enjoy fresh breath every day for the rest of your life.
Request your free copy at:
http://www.therabreath.com/a/1164/ebook.asp

The Truth About Halitosis, More Commonly Known As Bad Breath

PART I: THE SCIENCE OF HALITOSIS AND BACTERIA IN YOUR MOUTH

Halitosis, also more commonly known as bad breath, is caused by anaerobic producing bacteria which normally live WITHIN the surface of the tongue and in the throat. These bacteria are supposed to be there because they assist with digestion by breaking down proteins found in specific foods, mucous or phlegm, blood, and in diseased or "broken-down" oral tissue. Under certain conditions, these bacteria start to break down proteins at a very high rate. Proteins are made up of amino acids, two of which (Cysteine and Methionine) are dense with sulfur.

When the "beneficial" bacteria come into contact with these amino acids, the halitosis and "lousy-tasting" sulfur compounds are released from the back of the tongue and throat. These halitosis compounds are often scientifically referred to as Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC's), where volatile means vaporous and effervescent.

Because my original degree is in Bacteriology, let me explain a very important fact about these "bugs". First of all they are not infectious. Everyone in the world has the same group of bacteria in their mouth. You cannot "catch" halitosis from someone, even through kissing. Since they are part of our normal oral flora, you cannot permanently remove them from your mouth either, not by tongue scraping, not with antibiotics, and not by using rinses which claim to "lift the bacteria off your tongue". The only scientifically proven and clinically effective method of halting halitosis is by attacking the bacteria's ability to produce VSC's, and by converting the VSC's into non-odorous and non-tasting organic salts.

Speaking about bacteria, there is one other fact that you must understand about them. They are classified as "anaerobic" which literally means "without oxygen". They thrive in an environment where oxygen is NOT present. That is why they do not live on the surface of your tongue. Instead, they live in between the papillae (fibers) that make up your tongue.

These sulfur compounds are actually by-products of anaerobic bacteria. Everyone needs these bacteria because they assist the digestion process. Unfortunately as of yet for some undetermined reason, these particular bacteria are found in higher numbers in those plagued by halitosis. There are various theories that attribute the cause of halitosis to hormonal changes, a history of taking medications (usually antibiotics or sulfa drugs because they create an imbalance of oral bacteria), or even due to genetics (halitosis disorders appear to run in some families). It is known however, that halitosis seems to be evenly split between men and women.

PART II: THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH HALITOSIS BECOMES WORSE

There are certain conditions that exasperate a halitosis problem such as dry mouth, post nasal drip, the sinuses, and eating high protein foods.

Dry Mouth and Halitosis

Although some cases of dry mouth are naturally occurring, most cases are caused by one of the following factors: prescription medications (usually prescribed for high blood pressure or depression), antihistamines, and adult beverages that contain alcohol.

When your mouth is dryer you have less saliva. Saliva naturally contains oxygen, which keeps your mouth healthy and fresh. The bacteria that cause halitosis are anaerobic, which again simply means that they will thrive and make more sulfur in the presence of little or no oxygen. Thus if you have less saliva, you have less oxygen, thereby creating an anaerobic environment, perfect for the bacteria to produce halitosis and sour/bitter tasting compounds.

Post Nasal Drip and Halitosis

Post nasal drip is a condition where mucous drains and coats the back of the tongue and throat. These locations of the oral environment are exactly where bacteria live. We have learned that proteins contain amino acids, which in turn contain halitosis producing sulfur compounds. Since mucous is made up of interlinked strands of protein, with the condition of post nasal drip, the bacteria has a field day breaking down the proteins into halitosis and sour tasting sulfur type compounds. Strong antihistamines will not provide any help because of their drying effect.

The Sinuses and Halitosis

After personally treating nearly 9,000 people worldwide, I have yet to see a patient get rid of halitosis following sinus surgery. First of all, these anaerobic bacteria cannot live in the sinuses. When someone has a sinus infection, one of the common symptoms are intense sinus headaches caused by the pressure from the infection in the sinus. If you don't have these powerful headaches, you probably don't have a sinus problem. The fact is that once someone has an elevated amount of these anaerobic bacteria, they will create a halitosis problem from any protein source, including mucous, phlegm, etc. which drain down the back of your throat into the area where these bacteria live.

High Protein Foods and Halitosis

Those halitosis causing bacteria love proteins, and certain foods are packed with them such as dairy foods, fish, and even coffee.

Milk and cheese and most other dairy products are high in protein. A special note if you are lactose intolerant...I recommend you not eat or drink these products! Since your system cannot digest them properly, they are available to the bacteria for an extended period of time. A research article from the Los Angeles Times (November 1996) on lactose intolerance revealed that nearly 67% of all Americans can be classified as "lactose intolerant". This is due to the fact that in a diverse population such as we have here, there is a predilection for Asians, Hispanics, and African-Americans to be lactose intolerant.

Fish is high in protein as well. As many people tend to eat a high fish diet, logically, they make a halitosis problem worse.

Coffee, with or even without caffeine, contains high levels of acids which cause the bacteria that creates halitosis to reproduce more rapidly and create a bitter taste for many people. Virtually any acidic type of food will do this.

PART III: WHAT WORKS IN SOLVING A HALITOSIS PROBLEM

In the search for products that help in solving halitosis, there is one particular ingredient I highly recommend, Oxyd-VIII. It is an active ingredient comprised of stabilized chlorine dioxide that prevents the anaerobic bacteria from creating the sulfide and Mercaptan compounds of halitosis. Oxyd-VIII does this by "adding oxygen" to the oral environment. The end result is the formation of a "sulfate" which has no odor or taste (as opposed to sulfur which has an odor and bitter/sour taste). Most of the patients I treat start out with a starter kit that contains this active oxygen producing ingredient and work their way up from there.

Dr. Harold Katz is the worldwide expert on the topic of halitosis. Are you searching for a solution to stop halitosis? Receive your FREE copy of his easy-to-read "Bad Breath Bible" by visiting: http://www.TheraBreath.com/web/art/l/truth.asp

 

How To Effectively Clean a White Tongue, the Cause of Bad Breath

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you have a white tongue? A white tongue is something that nobody wants to have. Why? A white tongue not only looks abnormal, but if left untreated, it's a strong indication of a bad breath problem.

People who have a white tongue, also known as a geographic tongue, are definitely more likely to experience an abnormally colored tongue. Geographic tongue simply means a tongue that has lots of grooves and fissures in it. These grooves and fissures make an excellent breeding ground for the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath and a white tongue. Under certain conditions, a geographic tongue can be white, yellow, even black in color. A geographic tongue can also be coated and sometimes dry and cracked. The way around this problem is simply making sure that your tongue is kept as clean as possible. But...not all tongue cleaning is created equal.

Tongue cleaning or tongue scraping is a process that the majority of people in the United States don't do on a daily basis. Yet, it's one of the most important steps you can take to keep your breath clean and fresh!

MYTHS ABOUT CLEANING A WHITE TONGUE
MYTH #1: You have to scrape hard to clean a white tongue. This is false! You do not need to scrape your tongue so hard that it bleeds. In general, pressing harder does not remove more bacteria. You simply need to press hard enough that the tongue cleaner you're using is pressed flush across the surface of your white tongue. Try not to leave any gaps.

MYTH #2: Tongue Cleaning Alone Prevents Bad Breath. This is also false! Tongue cleaning alone does not kill the bacteria that cause bad breath that are breeding below the surface of a white tongue. It simply removes the gunk on the surface. This gunk (mucus and food debris) is a food source for anaerobic bacteria, the cause of a white tongue.

MYTH #3: You must use a complex, expensive gizmo to successfully clean your tongue. Again false! Really, all you need is a fairly rigid instrument, that you can easily make flush on the surface of your white tongue and cover the largest area possible. Those electronic tongue cleaners you see can be helpful if you have arthritis, difficulty with coordination, or in general have a a tough time performing some simple actions on tongue cleaning, which I'll outline below.

Tongue cleaning is really not that difficult to do, and it's not even very time consuming. That extra minute or two you spend on your tongue per day can reap huge rewards in preventing bad breath. It'll help prevent a white tongue, return it to it's normal color, and most importantly cut down on bad breath.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO SUCCESSFULLY CLEAN A WHITE TONGUE
STEP 1: Starting at the base of your tongue, place a tongue cleaner/scraper flush against your tongue's surface and make slow sweeping strokes from the back to the front. You can start at either side of your tongue and work your way across to the other side. Depending on the tongue cleaner you are using, you might need to make three to four different swaths across your white tongue.

STEP 2: Once the surface debris from your white tongue has been removed, apply a small bead of toothpaste to the head of your tongue cleaner. Make sure your toothpaste does not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate because this ingredient will dry out your mouth. I recommend using TheraBreath Oxygenating Toothpaste (http://www.therabreath.com/products.asp?CAT=3).

STEP 3: Gently coat the surface of your tongue (as far back as possible without gagging yourself) with the toothpaste. This allows the toothpaste to penetrate below the surface of your tongue and neutralize those sulfur-producing anaerobic bacteria. Believe it or not, there are more bacteria in the rear of your tongue than in the front!

STEP 4: Once your tongue is coated, allow the toothpaste to stay on the surface of your tongue as long as you can. Up to 90 seconds is ideal. If you begin to cough, or your gag reflex kicks in, that's okay, just spit whenever you need to.

STEP 5: Ideally, it's best to leave the toothpaste on the surface of your tongue, while you brush your teeth normally.

Following this routine daily gives you the most benefit possible in cleaning a white tongue. This routine will help prevent white tongue, keep your breath fresh, and give a geographic white tongue its best possible chance at maintaining the normal, healthy, pink color that everyone would like to have.

About the author:
Dr. Harold Katz is the worldwide expert on the topics of bad breath, halitosis, and dry mouth. Searching for a bad breath solution? To receive your FREE copy of his easy-to-read "Bad Breath Bible" visit: http://www.TheraBreath.com/web/art/L-HTCWT.asp

Bad Breath - Is It Destroying Your Confidence?

Whilst this may sound like a weird heading to be linking confidence and bad breath together many sufferers of breath problems will know exactly what I mean.

How often have you turned your head slightly when talking to someone to avoid breathing on them? Or had someone comment on how bad your breath smells. It is like being slapped in the face. No body likes it including me. But there is a way to control it or even stop it all together.

In the following page you will find out exactly how I overcome bad breath and some of the finer details about breath related problems.

What causes Bad Breath?

In most cases bad breath (halitosis) is caused by or related to oral bacteria. The wastes of oral bacteria are actually sulfur compounds and it is usually these compounds that will be the cause of your bad breath.

The build up of plaque can also largely contribute to the production of oral bacteria. It only takes a layer of .1 to .2 of a millimeter of plaque to provide an environment in which this bacteria can flourish.

What about foods, can they be a cause?

Absolutely, eating foods and drinks such as garlic, onions, cheese, orange juice, soda, meat product, dairy products and high protein foods.

Also when food becomes lodged between your teeth and around the gums it lends a very big part in the production of oral bacteria.

How do I treat bad breath.

In almost all cases bad breath is caused by a problem of some sort in the mouth. In which case it stands to reason that a visit to the dentist can help determine what is wrong. In the case that you may need dental treatment this may be the cause of your problems.

However if no oral cause can be found then it is possible that a trip to a clinic or practice that specializes in bad breath is required.

Bad Breath - What you can do to prevent it.

That being said I suffered a rude awakening when my girlfriend started commenting on my breath problems (being a dental nurse I respect her opinion in this regard). So I consulted my dentist.

I was told to floss regularly, shown how to brush properly and also suggested I use closys II as a mouth wash.

I have not had bad breath since I have started using Closys II and in my opinion is the best mouthwash out. To read more about Closys II go to http://www.toothwhiteningaustralia.com.au/bad-breath-treatment.php

Here are the steps outlined below that you can use to prevent bad breath

• Brush regularly twice a day if possible.
• Ensure that you floss each day.
• Make sure you drink enough water (This can help flush your mouth of unwanted food particles)
• Use a mouthwash after brushing. For best effect do this at night time.

I have followed these simple steps and no longer worry about bad breath. Neither will you if you put some of the points in this article to good use.

Marc Lindsay

Zoom Teeth Whitening - Laser Whitening Professionals

Providing information and awareness on zoom tooth whitening and teeth whitening procedures. For more information and other great articles on other dental problems please visit our site http://www.toothwhiteningaustralia.com.au/content/index.php