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Kill Bad Breath / Halitosis

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 5 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

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Rated G. (Control what you see)

What Causes Bad Breath? Do I Have It? And If So, How Do I Get Rid Of It?

 

Hi! I'm Georgina - a former long-term sufferer of (halitosis) bad breath. I'm also a licensed aesthetician and certified holistic health counselor, so you can imagine how self-conscious I was about talking to clients up close and personal!

Thankfully, all that angst is behind me, now that I have finally found a solution to my problem of 29 years (it started when I was a teenager). In fact, I am so relieved to have found a solution that I feel duty-bound to share with you how I did it.

Hopefully, the information in this lens will help you regain your personal confidence as much as I have.

If you have any general comments, feel free to leave them in the comment section. If you have any questions or need extra help, click on the link to my FULL PROFILE at the bottom of the page and use the CONTACT ME button to send me an email. I promise I will do my best to help you personally or point you to other helpful resources.

(And if you find this lens useful, feel free to rate it 4 or 5 stars using the rating stars at the top of the page. With your help, I'll be able to share this advice with a greater number of people suffering from this problem. Thanks!)

Here's to killing bad breath - once and for all!
Georgina

HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE BAD BREATH 

Before we go any further, we should probably address that awkward question that no-one ever likes to ask, does my breath smell?

And if it does, how bad is it?

If you have tried smelling your own breath by exhaling and cupping your own hand up to your nose to smell it, you will probably have discovered that you don't smell much (except your hand, of course!) That's due to a human process called "Acclimation".

You can, of course, ask a friend or loved one.

However, if you really want to get a gauge on your breath odor, there are 2 "scientifically proven" ways to do so.

METHOD 1

At home, by using the Seju Kiss-Me Meter Breath Odor Detector (shown above).

Maker of professional-grade toxic gas detectors, Seju uses its technology with this little device to pick up off-odor gases in the mouth. Feedback ratings are signaled by five little LED lights that tell you whether you're ready for close conversation or not!

Its reasonable price (under $30) and small size (1-3/4-by-1-inch) make it handy for pockets and purses and helpful in determining when you might need to freshen your breath.

METHOD 2

Through the use of a Halimeter, which measures the concentration of Sulfides in your breath. Readings above 75 ppb (parts per billion) indicate a breath odor that would be detectable by someone sitting next to you. You can check with your dentist to see if they have one. It's useful not just for measuring breath odor but also detecting whether you have a predisposition to gum disease.

BREATH ODOR POLL 

Let's perform a quick "unscientific" test.

Lick the back of your hand, wait for 10 seconds and then report your findings below! Bear in mind what other people smell will probably be a lot stronger than what you smell :(

Loading poll. Please Wait...

WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH 

If you tested positive or have concerns about your breath (don't worry, it is estimated that 95% of the world population will be concerned about bad breath some time in their life), then the next step is to determine where it's coming from. And, contrary to popular belief, it does NOT come from your digestive system.

According to Dr. Katz, a recognized expert in the field of bad breath, almost all cases of bad breath and taste disorders involve a group of anaerobic sulfur-producing bacteria that live below the surface of your tongue, in your throat, and often in your tonsils (if you still have tonsils).

These bacteria react to changes in their environment by producing odorous and lousy tasting Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs). These VSCs include hydrogen sulfide (smells like rotten eggs), methyl mercaptan (smells like old Gym socks), Putrescine and Cadaverine (smells like old garbage) and several other chemicals.

Dr. Katz has written a fantastic 50-page eBook about the symptoms, causes and cures of halitosis (bad breath) called The Bad Breath Bible. Usually sold for $10.00, you can download it FOR FREE! by clicking HERE.

If you prefer a quick overview of just the causes, here are SOME of the conditions that trigger bad breath:

  • A dry mouth
  • Thick saliva
  • Excess mucus in the throat
  • Post nasal drip
  • Smoking
  • Hormonal changes
  • History of diabetes
  • A diet high in proteins (dairy foods, red meat, beans, etc.)
  • Alcohol (in adult beverages or surprisingly in your mouthwash)
  • Medications which have dry mouth as a side-effect (anti-depressants, high blood pressure medications, anti-histamines, etc.)
  • Excessive use of "old-fashioned" oral products (containing alcohol and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) - check your medicine cabinet now to see if you're in this category!

    You may be asking "What about onions and garlic? What does bacteria have to do with the bad breath I get when I eat Italian food?" The truth is that sulfur is also the culprit in cases of bad breath caused by food odors. Onions, garlic, and other spicy foods contain a variety of sulfur compounds, known as mercaptans, which are very odorous.


    • See the section on TOP FOODS TO AVOID for more information.

    MUST-HAVE PRODUCTS TO ELIMINATE BAD BREATH 

    If you want to eliminate your bad breath quickly and permanently, there are 2 products that you need to use morning and night:

    1. Oxygenating toothpaste to kill the odor-producing, anaerobic bacteria that cause your bad breath.

    2. Oxygenating oral rinse that works with the toothpaste.

    It is also advisable to floss once or twice a day to dislodge any food particles stuck between your teeth that rot and smell:

    3. Antibacterial floss.

    p.s. I am assuming that you have already seen a dentist to make sure that you don't have any gum or dental problems.

    FREE TRIAL OF MUST-HAVE, ODOR-ELIMINATING PRODUCTS 

    These are the same products I used to get rid of my bad breath problem.

    If you want to receive a FREE TRIAL of the same products I used to eliminate my bad breath problem (which, by the way, I continue to use everyday), click HERE.

    You get to try the products for 15 days for FREE, at no risk to you.

    If, at the end of the 2-week trial, you are not happy with the products for whatever reason, you can return them, no questions asked.

    The only thing you pay is $6.95 shipping upfront!

    This is a great NO RISK WAY to guarantee you eliminate your bad breath BEFORE you buy any products.

    YOUR FREE TRIAL INCLUDES:

    2 Bottles of Oxygenating Oral Rinse
    1 Tube of Oxygenating Toothpaste
    1 Tongue Cleaner
    1 Bad Breath Bible
    1 FREE On-The-Go Kit
    1 Roll of Breath Fresheners, 1 Sheet of Gum, and 1 Pak of 9X FreshStrips

    You can order your free trial kit HERE.

    Check it out. If you're like me, you won't be disappointed!

    p.s. Read the sections below to see how I personally use these products.

    MY FRESH BREATH PROTOCOL - STEP #1 

    CHECK SALIVA pH LEVELS (15 seconds)

    Since it only took me 29 years (!) to find a way to eliminate my bad breath, I thought it might be helpful if I walked you through the simple steps I take every day to keep my breath fresh.

    You don't have to follow all of them (steps 3, 4 and 5 are the critical ones).

    I just like the really clean feel of my mouth and my breath when I do all of them.

    As I mentioned before, you will gain a complete understanding of the system if you read the free eBook The Bad Breath Bible.

    So, without further ado, let me walk you through my fresh breath protocol, based on all the dental and nutritional research I have done.

    I will then add some additional pointers in case you suffer from conditions that I don't have.

    CHeck Saliva pH Levels
    The very first thing I do every morning before I brush my teeth or drink/eat anything is check my pH levels to see how acid or alkaline my saliva is.

    I do this for many reasons (including managing my weight, keeping Candida/yeast overgrowth at bay, and reducing facial acne) but to keep us on point, I have found a correlation between increased breath odor and an overly acidic pH.

    Research has also confirmed this. It turns out that acids in the mouth make bacteria reproduce much faster. The normal pH for the mouth is 6.5 which is slightly acidic (7 is neutral).

    Testing is easy to do and takes seconds. Simply place a pH testing strip in your mouth to coat it with saliva, remove it, then let it develop for 15 seconds. (My favorite brand is pH Test Strips.)

    Compare your strip's color to the color chart on the box. If you are overly acidic, then you may want to modify your diet. Here's a link to a really useful website about pH and diet, with lots of free information and great-tasting recipes: Acid Alkaline Diet. (I also offer personal coaching at www.imagine-you.com if you are interested in one-on-one support.)

    MY FRESH BREATH PROTOCOL - STEP #2 

    SCRAPE TONGUE (30 seconds)

    Next, I use a tongue scraper to remove any mucus coating on the surface of my tongue. Not only will your mouth feel cleaner but your food will also taste better!

    Just pull the scraper gently from the back of your tongue (without triggering your gag reflex!) to the front 6-8 times, rinsing the scraper as necessary but not your mouth!. (Water counteracts the efficacy of the following products).

    MY FRESH BREATH PROTOCOL - STEP #3 

    BRUSH YOUR TONGUE & TEETH WITH OXYGENATING TOOTHPASTE (3 minutes)

    The second most important product (read on to find out what the first is) in my arsenal of breath-freshening tools is an oxygenating toothpaste that does not contain sodium lauryl sulphate, which can dry your mouth out and cause canker sores. This toothpaste is a key part of my fresh breath success story.

    First, I apply a little of this toothpaste to my tongue scraper, then run the scraper over my tongue again or to my dry toothbrush and brush my tongue. (Important: do not rinse yet.)

    Next, I apply some toothpaste to my dry toothbrush and I brush my teeth as usual, paying extra attention to my back molars, and even brushing the inside of my cheeks and roof of my mouth (apparently, bacteria lingers everywhere).

    I then spit but do not rinse with water. Instead, I rinse with a special oral rinse, which you will learn more about in Step #5. Water will negate the effects of this special toothpaste. I know that sounds a little bizarre but that's how it works its magic.

    MY FRESH BREATH PROTOCOL - STEP #4 

    USE ANTI-BACTERIAL FLOSS (60 seconds)

    While I don't always floss in the morning, I do floss at night. This helps remove particles of food stuck between your teeth, which can cause a build-up of bacteria. The floss I use comes pre-coated with a special bacteria-fighting solution that helps treat hard-to-reach areas. You can read more about it here.

    MY FRESH BREATH PROTOCOL - STEP #5 

    RINSE MOUTH WITH AN OXYGENATING, ANTIBACTERIAL ORAL RINSE (45 seconds)

    This is my #1 tool. I firmly believe that without this oxygenating, antibacterial oral rinse, I would still have bad breath. You can tell the difference overnight - honestly!

    Instead of rinsing with water after you brush and floss your teeth, you simply rinse with this solution. And if you use it every day, it will soon get rid of any morning breath you might have.

    This oral rinse is non-acidic, does not contain sodium lauryl sulphate and prevents anaerobic bacteria from producing Volatile Sulphur Compounds (see the above section on CAUSES OF BAD BREATH for an explanation of VSCs).

    MY FRESH BREATH PROTOCOL - STEP #6 

    AVOID DRY MOUTH THROUGHOUT THE DAY

    As I mentioned above, dry mouth is a key contributor to breath odor since bacteria love to grow in that environment.

    To avoid this, drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day.

    You can also use sugar-free, antibacterial gum to keep your mouth moist and serve as a temporary fresh breath solution.

    Apparently, Hollywood celebrities use French Kiss Chewing Gum before they kiss on camera since it obliterates odors instantly!

    ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS 

  • Use an electric toothbrush to really clean your teeth.

  • If you suffer from sinus drainage, use a Neti Pot or a Nasal/Sinus Irrigator.

  • Avoid smoking to prevent dry mouth, which can lead to bad breath.


  • Certain medications may lead to bad breath. For a comprehensive list, please see page 18 of The Bad Breath Bible.

    • BAD BREATH FIGHTERS ON eBAY 

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    eBay

    TOP FOODS TO AVOID 

    If you are prone to bad breath, avoid sulfur-producing foods whenever possible, but especially before an important meeting or event.

    These include:

  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Alcohol
  • Dairy Foods
  • Sugars
  • Acidic Foods (The website Acid Alkaline Diet is a great source of information on this topic, with lots of great recipes).

    • QUICK LINKS TO USEFUL RESOURCES 

    1. Free 2-week trial of the same products I used to get rid of my bad breath. If they don't work for you, simply return them - no questions asked.
    Free Breath Care Products.

    2. Free eBook that covers in-depth the symptoms, causes and cures for bad breath.
    The Bad Breath Bible.

    3. The pH test strips that I use to monitor the acidity of my oral cavity.
    pH Test Strips.

    4. Great website that offers a free guide, food charts and recipes to teach you how to maintain a healthy acid-alkaline balance.
    Acid Alkaline Diet

    5. Handy tongue scraper that helps you reach the back of your tongue where bacteria can linger.
    Tongue scraper

    6. Bacteria-fighting toothpaste that I use to keep bad breath at bay.
    Oxygenating toothpaste

    7. Special antibacterial floss that neutralizes any odor coming from food lodged between your teeth.
    Antibacterial floss

    8. Sugar-free, antibacterial gum to prevent your mouth from getting dry, or for a temporary fresh breath solution.
    French Kiss Chewing Gum.

    9. My #1 tool to kill bad breath. If you use only one product, then this should be it!
    Oxygenating oral rinse

    FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT OR CONTACT ME 

    If you found the above information helpful, feel free to leave a comment below and rate it using the stars above :)

    If you have a question or need additional support, click on my PROFILE below and use the CONTACT ME button to send me an email.

    I promise I will do my best to help you personally or direct you to other helpful resources.

    Together, we'll find a solution!

    divinebook

    Great Lens on bad breath. Great job. I am also working on a lens about HOW TO STOP BAD BREATH.

    Posted September 01, 2008
    divinebook

    Good Post.. Just have a look at my post to at http://stopbadbreath.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/how-to-stop-bad-breath/

    Posted August 25, 2008
    Steve-SEO-UK

    I know when my breath smells. When my mouth is dry and when I smoke (bad boy!). I think I'll Favorite your Lens and take a look at the products. Many thanks, Steve.

    Posted July 17, 2008
    Long Awaited

    finally,someone who can relate to this problem. as a nurse it has become very hard for me to perform my job and communicate with people. i often find my loved ones even dodging the wrath of my breath. my oral hygiene regimen is constant and on-going but nothing seems to help. i will reprt back after i receive my free trial. thanks

    Posted July 16, 2008

    Georgina-Sweeney

    buyit stanza - I'm sorry that you are upset. I suffered from bad breath on and off for 29 years, so can appreciate how you are feeling.

    I presume you have seen a dentist and you don't have any gum or dental problems.

    Based on my great results, I recommend you try the following products. You can try them out for 15 days for free to see if they work for you and return them afterwards if they don't. The only thing you pay is $6.95 shipping.

    Click HERE for more information.

    Let me know if I can further.
    All the best,
    Georgina

    Posted July 07, 2008
     
    1 of 2 pages

    Related topics: Bad Breath,  bacteria halitosis,  bacteria that cause halitosis,  Health & Medicine,  more

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    Georgina-Sweeney

    About Georgina-Sweeney

    A natural skin care specialist, image consultant & holistic health counselor with a passion for helping people look and feel fabulous (without resorting to surgery, injections, or toxic chemicals.)

    For more information, please see: my blog Naturifique and my holistic health counseling site: Imagine You.

    It all started with a migraine. A migraine that became progessively worse over the course of several weeks, that left me totally incapacitated, in severe pain, with blurry vision and no end in sight to getting rid of it. Tests were done, doctors remained puzzled. I had never been ill, had never experienced more than a mild headache once in a blue moon, had no eyesight or dental issues (I had both checked out). Test results showed that I did not have any food or other common allergies. I eliminated some of the more common triggers of migraines, such as chocolate and caffeine, just in case, but the pain remained. So, what could be the cause?

    Well, since no-one could pinpoint one, the proposed solution was for me to take migraine medication - FOR LIFE! Apparently, that was a common course of action for people in my state. I must admit, the thought of ending the pain was very tempting, especially since I was now off work, couldn't drive, and couldn't really function. But I knew that popping a pill every day wasn't a solution for me, especially since I was only 30.

    So, true to my nature, and armed with my enquiring mind and background in marketing, I began to do my own research. The medical profession had drawn a blank. It was up to me to find my own answers, to get to the root cause of the headaches and not simply mask them with medication.

    To cut a long story short, a friend of mine recommended I work with her chiropractor. Not for adjustments but to undergo some alternative testing regarding food sensitivities, as opposed to food allergies. Bingo! Within a couple of days, after finding and eliminating from my diet the foods that didn't agree with me (in my case, dairy, sugar, wheat, yeast, processed foods and anything containing mold e.g. vinegar), I was once again migraine-free!

    This was the first major AH-HA! moment in my life. By simply changing what I put inside my body, I could improve my health dramatically. I continued with this elimination diet for 3 months and looked and felt better than I had in years. My eyesight improved, my weight dropped, my skin glowed and my energy levels skyrocketed. All because I chose to no longer eat certain foods that didn't agree with my body (note: all bodies are different, so it is important to listen to your body and discover what works for you).

    And so began my journey into natural health. I read voraciously, attended seminars, learned as much as I could about natural food, natural skin care products and the mind/body/spirit connection - and, most importantly, listened to my body. Soon I found myself sharing my new-found knowledge with friends and colleagues, who all wanted to know the secret to my weight loss and vibrant health.

    Through this, I still maintained my successful 16-year career as a marketing executive for a Fortune 500 company, until 2 years ago when I resigned to truly follow my passion for nutrition and skin care. I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York, which is affiliated with Columbia University Teacher's College, and attended a top skin care school in Maine, as well as the Impression Strategies Institute in Virginia.

    I am now qualified as a licensed aesthetician, certified total image consultant and board-certified holistic health counselor. I maintain a private skin care, image and health counseling practice in Camden, Maine. For more information or to work with me to customize a health solution for you, please see Imagine You.

    My lenses are the culmination of over 12 years of first-hand experience and research in natural health, as well as several years of professional training. They are also the vehicles through which I am excited to offer you news and reviews regarding organic skin care, natural beauty and optimal nutrition.

    Feel free to leave a comment or contact me if there are topics of particular interest to you, you would like to work with me to customize a health solution for you or you simply want to share your story.

    Here's to looking and feeling fabulous - naturally!

    All the best,
    Georgina

    p.s. Throughout my lenses, you will find references to information, products and companies not only in the USA but also from around the world. Born in Ireland, fluent in French and Spanish and having lived and worked in the UK, France, Spain, Canada and the USA, I enjoy checking out what advances other countries have made in the realm of natural health and beauty. I hope you enjoy reading about them also.

    Georgina-Sweeney's Pages

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