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Kiss bad breath goodbye


The foods you eat—from garlic pizza to cheeses—may be causing you bad breath without you knowing it.

Halitosis, the medical term for bad breath, is now a common oral problem among Filipinos, particularly those living in the rural areas.
 
“In the Philippines, the incidence of halitosis, conservatively speaking, may be 75 percent or higher for the general population,” reports Dr. Philip S. Chua, a medical columnist. “This is a rough guesstimate, and the figure, of course, varies in different subgroups in the community.”
 
“But realistically, just about anyone, in any profession or walk of life, may have annoying bad breath, persistently or occasionally,” Dr. Chua says.
 
Blame it on bacteria
 
It's all because of bacteria, says Dr. Willie T. Ong, who was given the Outstanding Filipino Physician Award by the Department of Health and JCI-Senate Philippines in 2007.

Ong says bad breath is “caused by anaerobic bacteria that break down the food we chew and turn them into volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). These VSCs are responsible for the foul smell.”
 
Until a few years ago, the most doctors could do was to counsel patients with bad breath about oral hygiene. Now, they are finding new ways to treat the usually embarrassing but curable condition.  

Goodbye, halitosis
 
Here are some tips on how to kiss that nasty halitosis goodbye, as shared by doctors:
 
1. Don’t dine with the garlic family
 
“Since garlic breath can lead to social disharmony and embarrassment, it should be avoided one day before an important date or occasion,” suggests Dr. Malcolm Ming-Kuang Guo, a dentistry professor at the National Taiwan University Hospital. 
 
Aside from garlic, other foods that must be avoided are onions and hot peppers.
 
2. Say no to cheese
 
Generally, cheese and other dairy products get fermented by the bacteria found in the mouth.  
 
“But the bad breath caused by these dairy products can easily be cured by regular oral hygiene method,” points out Dr. Guo.
 
3. Carry a toothbrush and dental floss
 
Some odors can be eliminated—permanently or temporarily—if you brush immediately after eating. 
 
At any time, there are 50 trillion microscopic organisms loitering in your mouth. They sit in every dark corner, eating each morsel of food that passes your lips, collecting little smells, and producing little odors of their own. As you exhale, the bacteria exhale. 
 
“Because the main cause of bad breath is the breakdown of food components producing foul-smelling gases, brushing will remove the bulk of the food in the mouth,” says Dr. Eugene Tang Kok Weng, immediate past president of Singapore Dental Association. 
 
The dental floss, on the other hand, removes debris lodged between the teeth which the bristles of the toothbrush may not reach.
 
4. Brush your tongue
 
The bad odor usually arises from the surface of the tongue. 
 
“The tongue is not really smooth,” explains Dr. Perla Cruz-Triviño of the General Dentistry and Prosthodontics of Manila Doctors Hospital.  
 
“It is covered with microscopic, hair-like projections and when food remnants stay long enough, bacteria react on it and produce acid which is foul-smelling.”
 
5. Rinse your mouth
 
If you forget to bring your toothbrush, you can always rinse your mouth with plain water.  
 
“Rinsing with water will help to dislodge many of the bigger pieces of food which will reduce the bulk of food remaining inside the oral cavity,” says Dr. Tang.
 
6. Stick with water
 
Avoid the following: beer, coffee, whiskey, and wine.  
 
“Only water is advised if you already have halitosis,” says Dr. Tang. “Any beverage that contains alcohol dries up the mouth and worsens the halitosis.”
 
7. Chew some mints or gum
 
“Mint can partly cover some odor from the mouth,” says Dr. Guo.  
 
“Gum chewing will take food debris away from the teeth and stimulates salivary secretion by which the food debris can be washed away and prevent some bad odor from the mouth.”
 
8. Clean your dentures
 
Since dentures can absorb odors in the mouth, brush them regularly.  
 
You may also soak your dentures in oxidizing liquids (made by dissolving in water an oxidizing tablet available in supermarkets) for a few hours each time. “This will help keep the fitting surfaces of the dentures clean,” says Dr. Tang.

9. See a dentist and/or doctor
 
In his book, “Stay Younger, Live Longer,” Dr. Ong also suggests that you see your dentist every six months.  
 
“Some cases of bad breath really come from infections of the mouth, teeth, and gums,” Dr. Ong explains. “Tooth decay is a common cause for bad breath.”
 
In some cases, you may need to consult a gastroenterologist or ENT (Ear Nose Tongue) doctor because there are cases where bad breath emanates from inside the throat and stomach.
 
“Bad breath may seem like a trivial thing, but it can keep you from getting the deal, finding a date, and having wonderful friends,” Dr. Ong reminds. “Find out if you have bad breath and take the necessary steps to cure it.” —KG, GMA News
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