The last bad breath

Bad breath (or halitosis) is normally caused by a malfunction somewhere along the gastrointestinal tract – either a faulty digestive system or poor mouth hygiene. The usual suspects causing halitosis are:
• inadequate digestive enzymes or hydrochloric acid production
• imbalance of bowel flora, notably Bifidobacterium lactis
• constipation
• poor dental hygiene, especially gum disease
• morning breath.

Other factors contributing to bad breath include nose or throat infections, postnasal drip and heavy metal poisoning (check for a blue line along the gums for lead poisoning).

Anyone who feels their breath may be a bit on the nose, should immediately delete anchovies, blue cheeses, salami, pastrami and tuna; these foods leave oils in our mouths that can hang about in an odorous manner for anything up to 24 hours, and are stubbornly resilient to brushing, flossing and gargling.

A note on morning breath

Morning breath is caused by the dramatic decrease in saliva production while we sleep. Saliva helps fight bacteria in the mouth that is often the cause of bad breath. The back of the tongue becomes an ideal collecting depot for minute food particles and dead mouth cells, and a subsequent bacterial colonization occurs. Unpalatable smells are caused by the bacteria’s by-products. Meticulous dental hygiene, that is, flossing well before brushing, especially at bedtime helps with lessening the dry-mouth bacterial load.

In addition to flossing and brushing vigorously, an excellent habit to acquire is tongue-scrapping. Gently scrape or brush your tongue from the distal portion to the tip, gently removing any coating. Rinse your mouth well afterwards with water or even better water with a few drops of citrus seed extract or alternatively finish with a gargle of liquid zinc. Both zinc and citrus extract are strong anti-fungals, helping to remove pathogenic organisms with one or two swift gargles or mouthfuls.