Thursday, October 22, 2009
We’ve all experienced trash-can mouth — when your breath gets so stinky you wish your tongue couldn’t taste. But why is it that sometimes our breath smells less-than-fresh?
Photo illustration by Kirsten Hudson
Bad news breath: Offending odors can be caused by plaque bulidup, dry mouth and certain foods.
The most common cause of bad breath is just not cleaning your teeth properly, says Kelly Miller, dentist at Lawrence Dental Solutions, 545 Columbia Drive.
Food particles left sitting in your mouth and tartar and plaque buildup from not brushing can lead to this putrid predicament. Dry mouth also causes bad breath. Constant, lingering bad breath could point to a bigger problem, though — it could be a symptom of gum disease.
You also better watch what you eat if you want fresh breath. Certain foods that produce sulfur-containing gases, such as cabbage, onions and garlic, cause noxious breath.
If you just can’t rid yourself of muck-mouth, blame your genes. Certain people are more susceptible to the bacteria that cause bad breath, Miller says.
To prevent bad breath, don’t rely on mouthwashes — they just temporarily mask odors, Miller says. Prescription mouthwashes can reduce bacteria that cause bad breath, but most over-the-counter brands won’t work. Stick to daily flossing and brushing (don’t forget your tongue!) and regular dental check-ups to keep your breath smelling sweet.
Essential life skills: Getting rid of bad ...
In case of emergency, read quickly.
That's disgusting: Sleeping without brushing your teeth
Harmful bacteria invade the teeth and gums over time, causing cavities and ...
That's disgusting
Neglecting your tongue
Health Tip
Drink black tea to help prevent bad breath and cavities
That's disgusting: Not washing your retainers
Plastic molds harbor nasty bacteria if not cleaned
Better Options for Bad Situations: Not Having ...
If you're going to do it, be smart.
That's disgusting: old toothbrushes
Good For You, Bad For You: Teeth ...
Sometimes it's hard to tell.
Kansas in heat: Clean oral sex
Tackle the sticky world of relationships.
That's disgusting: French kissing
Saliva can carry infectious diseases
Good for you / bad for you
Spare your hair
Household health
Staying healthy is as easy as keeping clean
That's disgusting
How to keep your feet smelling fresh
That's disgusting
Drinking previously opened beverages
Good for you, bad for you: Antiperspirants
Sometimes it's hard to tell.
That’s disgusting: Make-up brushes
Dude . . . gross.
That's disgusting: Kissing
Avoiding mouth-to-mouth action is a good way to stave off strep, mono, ...
Good for you, bad for you: Teeth ...
Americans spent more than $2.3 billion on teeth whitening in 2008.
Health tip
The uncommonly known facts about flossing
That's disgusting: the five-second rule
What's hiding in your cabinets?
Facts about expired medicine
Keying in on germs
The surfaces of public computer keyboards harbor hundreds of germs and bacteria. ...
Blog: Good Bacteria?
A Healthy Looking at Bacteria.
That's disgusting: Nail biting
Finding the Right Bacteria for You
Not all probiotics are created equal.
Guide to grilling
Awaken your inner grillmaster.
That's disgusting: not wearing socks
The sock was invented for a reason.
That's disgusting: showerheads
Dude, gross.
That's disgusting
No double dipping, dude
A Fancy Affair
That's Disgusting: Wearing unwashed clothes
Dude...gross.
Good For You, Bad For You: Sharing ...
Sometimes it’s hard to tell.
Good for you, bad for you: Gum
Sometimes it's hard to tell.
That's Disgusting: Popping your pimples
Dude. Gross.
That’s disgusting: Germs on money
Dude, that's gross.
Good for you / bad for you
Open containers
That's disgusting: Toothbrushes
Dude ... gross.
The Spice of Life
The hell of a hangover
The science behind hangovers and what foods really work to ease the ...
Slow Down and Chew
Eating slowly and healthy helps you during finals and the holidays.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID