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The Truth About Bad Breath & What the Symptoms Mean
by Dr. Harold Katz, Founder of The California Breath Clinics
Bad breath is caused by Anaerobic Sulfur Producing
Bacteria which normally live WITHIN the surface of the tongue and in the
throat. These bacteria are supposed to be there, because they assist humans
in digestion by breaking down proteins found in specific foods, mucous or
phlegm, blood, and in diseased or "broken-down" oral tissue. Under certain
conditions, these bacteria start to break down proteins at a very high rate.
Proteins are made up of Amino Acids. Two of the Amino Acids (Cysteine and
Methionine) are dense with sulfur.
 When
these "beneficial" bacteria come into contact with these compounds, the odorous
and "lousy-tasting" sulfur compounds are released from the back of the tongue
and throat, as Hydrogen Sulfide, Methyl Mercaptan, and other odorous and
bad tasting compounds. These "problem" compounds are often referred to as volatile
sulfur compounds (VSC), where volatile means Vaporous and Effervescent,
two adjectives which accurately describe their ability to offend other people
instantly.
Because my original degree is in Bacteriology, let
me explain a very important fact about these "bugs". They are not "bad guys" -
they are not infectious. Everyone in the world has the same group of bacteria
in their mouth. You cannot "catch" bad breath from someone else - even by
kissing. Since they are part of our normal oral flora, you cannot permanently
remove them from your mouth - not by tongue scraping, not by antibiotics,
and not by rinses which claim to "lift the bacteria off your tongue". The
only scientifically proven and clinically effective method of halting Halitosis
is by attacking the bacteria's ability to produce VSC and by converting the
VSC into non-odorous and non-tasting organic salts. (I should know, I've
personally treated nearly 10,000 people at my California Breath Clinics and
I've helped thousands more through my TheraBreath formulas. Take a look at
a small fraction of testimonial letters to
see What Doesn't Work!
 Speaking
about bacteria, there is one other fact that you must understand about these
bacteria. They are classified as "Anaerobic" - which literally means "Without
Oxygen". They thrive in an environment where Oxygen is NOT present. That
is why they DO NOT LIVE ON THE SURFACE OF YOUR TONGUE! They live in between
the papillae (fibers) that make up your tongue!
These sulfur compounds are actually by-products of anaerobic bacteria (Fusobacterium
and Actinomyces, among others). Everyone needs these bacteria, because they
assist the digestion process. But, unfortunately, for some, as yet undetermined
reason these particular bacteria are found in higher numbers in those anguished
by Bad Breath. (Various theories attribute this to hormonal changes, a history
of medications, usually antibiotics or sulfa drugs-which create an imbalance
of oral bacteria, or even Genetics-these disorders appear to run in some families.)
We do know however, that it seems to be evenly split between men and women.
Uncover the REAL Causes of Bad Breath!
Dr. Harold Katz, founder of the California Breath Clinics, is a worldwide expert
on the topics of bad breath, halitosis and dry mouth. His 'Bad Breath
Bible' is an easy-to-read guide to help YOU experience fresh breath
every day for the rest of your life.
Request your free copy at: www.therabreath.com/a/1392/ebook.asp
Conditions under which the problem becomes worse:
Dry Mouth
Although some cases of dry mouth are naturally occurring, most cases are
caused by one of these factors; prescription medications (usually prescribed
for high blood pressure or depression) antihistamines, adult beverages,
and mouthwashes with alcohol in them. (see "Why
Regular Products Don't Work" )
When your mouth is dryer, you have less Saliva. Saliva naturally contains
Oxygen, which keeps your mouth healthy and fresh. These bacteria are anaerobic,
which simply means that they will thrive and make more sulfur in the presence
of little or no oxygen. Thus if you have less Saliva, you have less oxygen,
thereby creating an anaerobic environment, perfect for the bacteria to
produce more of these odorous and sour/bitter compounds. For people with
Dry Mouth, products such as Saliva Stimulation Tablets can
help greatly.
Post-Nasal Drip
We know that proteins contain amino acids, which in turn contain sulfur
compounds (see text above). When a person has a post nasal drip, mucus
drains and coats the back of the tongue and throat, exactly where bacteria
live (see diagram above). Since mucus is made up of interlinked strands
of protein, the bacteria have a field day, breaking down these proteins
into odorous and sour tasting sulfur type compounds. Strong Antihistamines
don't help, because the drying effect of the antihistamines also creates
a problem. The only method of ending the odor and taste are to use Oxyd-VIII
based oral products. Many of my patients with post nasal drip have claimed
great success with use of the Nasal-Sinus
Drops.
What About The Sinuses?
After personally treating nearly 9,000 people worldwide, I have yet to
see a patient get rid of his bad breath following sinus surgery. First
of all, these anaerobic bacteria cannot live in the sinuses. When someone
has a sinus infection, one of the common symptoms are intense sinus headaches,
caused by the pressure from the infection in the sinus. If you don't have
these powerful headaches, you probably don't have a sinus problem. The
fact is that once someone has an elevated amount of these anaerobic bacteria,
they will create the problem from any protein source, including mucous,
phlegm, etc, which drain down the back of your throat into the area where
these bacteria live.
High Protein Foods
These bacteria love those proteins, and certain foods are packed with them:
Milk and Cheese and most other dairy products. (The fat content does not
matter.) If you are lactose intolerant, do not eat or drink these products!
Since your system cannot digest them properly, they are available to the
bacteria for an extended period of time. A recent research article from
the Los Angeles Times (November 1996) on lactose intolerance showed that
nearly 67% of all Americans can be classified as "Lactose Intolerant".
This is due to the fact that in a diverse population such as we have here,
there is a predilection for Asians, Hispanics, and African-Americans to
be lactose intolerant.
Fish are high in proteins. As many people eat a high fish diet, logically
they make the problem worse.
Coffee with caffeine (and even without) contains high levels of acids which
cause the bacteria to reproduce more rapidly and create a bitter taste for
many people. (Virtually any acidic type of food will do this.)
Coffee drinking was one of the problems that my patients used to have.
After starting my treatment, they have been able to go back to coffee drinking
(in moderation of course) without any bitter tastes afterward.
What Works?
Oxyd-VIII is the active ingredient in TheraBreath products. It prevents
the anaerobic bacteria from creating the odorous sulfide and Mercaptan
compounds by "adding oxygen" to the environment. The end result is the
formation of a "Sulfate",
which has no odor or taste. Most of my patients start out with a Starter
Kit and work their way up from there if necessary.
Find
out more at TheraBreath
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