Bad breath – or “halitosis”
Bad Breath is most commonly caused by poor oral hygiene and dehydration.
Of course it might also be that onion bagel with garlic cream cheese, but then it’s kinda obvious what caused the stench.
Pungent food combos aside, when you’re not brushing, flossing, or keeping a well salivated environment in your mouth, bad breath breeds like a 6th grade volcano project – which is to say, it’s all over the kitchen, and Mom isn’t too happy about it.
Bacteria
There are billions of bacteria in your mouth – some good, some bad, some stinky: when you eat, you are not only feeding your body, you are also feeding the bacteria in your mouth. The usual doubling time for well-fed bacteria is 20 minutes.
Anaerobic bacteria – the type of bacteria that don’t metabolize oxygen – are a main source for producing what are referred to as Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC) which cause bad breath. These bacteria thrive on dense protein foods (dairy, fish, meat, eggs, nuts and beans), sugars, and acidic foods and drinks (sodas, coffee, juices, fatty meals).
Another key source of bad breath is the nose [1]. In this incidence, the air leaving the nostrils has an overpowering odor that’s different from the oral odor. Nasal odor can also be due to sinus infections or other foreign bodies.
Dehydration
Yeah, we’re gonna use the word everyone hates: moist. Your mouth needs moisture, both for comfort and to stave off bad breath, so a well-salivated, moist environment is optimal. Decreased saliva (dry mouth) occurs when sleeping with an open mouth or snoring, consuming alcohol, smoking, and general dehydration.
Stay hydrated, and note if any prescription or allergy drugs list dry mouth as a side effect. The culprit of your bad breath isn’t a calculus theorem – it’s easily solved for.
Reducing volatile sulfur compounds (vsc’s) and bacteria levels are essential in reducing bad breath. We’re proud that our products use natural ingredients to accomplish this. The first action hero against bad breath is zinc, which captures and eliminates volatile sulfur compounds. Our second action hero, essential oils (such as peppermint) are natural antibacterials, fighting those vsc’s on contact; however, it’s important to note that the amount of essential oils in gums and after dinner mints is quite low, and candy mints will just supply more food for bacterial growth. Our final action hero ingredient, xylitol, is a sugar that is NOT metabolized by bacteria, meaning when bacteria ingest xylitol, it will not promote bacterial growth. Xylitol has also been proven to prevent tooth decay.
Your best bet when traditional brushing and flossing isn’t an option: Dentiva.
With its trifecta of zinc, peppermint, and xylitol, it not only scrubs your mouth of vsc’s but also promotes healthy oral hygiene.