The Holidays Can Conjure Up Bad Breath

By Dr. Harold Katz   - Source

Across the world, people have been celebrating Oktoberfest. The true beer-drinking holiday is an excuse to try new brews, indulge in old favorites and meet new people. Unfortunately, beer is a culprit for halitosis, something that no one wants to experience at such a festive event. Halitosis is caused by bacteria build up in the mouth that leads to smelly breath, and offers a sure way to avoid new friendships at a major event.

Halitosis, or bad breath, is a disorder often caused by the food or drink someone consumes, combined with their oral hygiene. Luckily, there are easy tricks to subside bad breath to give you an added confidence boost when out at events like Oktoberfest.

“Fixing bad breath depends on what's causing it. In 80 to 90 percent of cases, it's due to something in the mouth. Most often, bad breath is the result of nothing more serious than a dirty mouth,” Discovery Fit & Health wrote. “Plaque, the nearly invisible film of bacteria that's constantly forming in your mouth, is often responsible. Another possible source of stink can be decaying food that's trapped between teeth.”

Balance the brew with H2O
Drinking brews at Oktoberfest may take a hefty toll on the mouth, since many brews at these festivals contain much more alcohol than your average beer. Alcohol dries out the mouth quickly, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you are heading out to a festival, or even a party where you know there will be drinking, try to stay well-hydrated. Since alcohol causes the mouth to dry up, staying hydrated will help prevent this. Try to gulp down a glass of water after every drink or so to keep the mouth, and everyone that you are talking to, happy.

Keep the sweets aside
If you are already indulging in alcoholic beverages, stay away from sugary treats that are often served at these types of events. Sugar is the main food source for bacteria, causing gross build up and even worse breath. Eating large portions of sugar will create equal amounts of odors in the mouth, cause plaque and progress into a more severe case of bad breath - halitosis. Rinsing your mouth with water after a sweet treat will help wash the bacteria out of the mouth, but an all-natural mouthwash is the best solution in these cases. If you are feeling extra insecure, try to find a sprig of fresh parsley to chew on. Although it may seem like an odd solution, this is a great temporary solution to keep the breath fresh.

Nibble on yogurt
If you find yourself constantly fearful of bad breath, sugarless plain yogurt has been known to rid the mouth of smelly bacteria. Experts believe that the live cultures in these types of yogurt drown out the bacteria that lives in the back of the mouth and causes a hydrogen sulfide smell. Although it may be gross at first to eat yogurt with little taste, Yahoo! suggests eating three-ounces a day, less than half a normal container. Before going out, try to snack on sugar free and flavorless yogurt.

The ultimate way to rid the mouth of smelliness is to maintain good dental hygiene and use all-natural mouthwash and toothpaste. Many people tend to rinse their mouths with painful wash that is doing more harm than good. Traditional mouthwashes contain alcohol, just like a beer. Although it is killing some bacteria, it is also causing the mouth to dry out. All-natural solutions don’t have alcohol in them and leave the breath smelling minty fresh.

Keep Your Little Monster's Teeth Away From Harm This Halloween

More than 90 percent of children will go trick or treating this year and return home with bags full of sugary candy that can turn anyone's mouth into a nightmare. By taking a few preventive steps, however, your children can enjoy Halloween without harming their teeth.

Since sugar-free gum is one treat that actually helps prevent cavities, it is a smart choice to drop in Halloween bags this year. Parents can also give it to their children to help neutralize the effects of sugary snacks after eating. Chewing sugar-free gum containing the artificial sweeteners sorbitol and xylitol reduces cavities. The chewing motion stimulates the flow of saliva, which helps cleanse the teeth. Sweets are especially harmful, since damaging acids form in the mouth every time you eat a sugary snack and continue to affect the teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized. The sweetening agents in sugarless gum are effective in combating the bacteria in plaque and fighting the acid that eats away at enamel.

Certain foods such as sweets and soda are easily linked to tooth decay, however all foods can promote tooth decay if eaten in excess. The key is to teach kids to eat in moderation and make sure that they take proper care of their teeth. "While healthy alternatives to candy, such as fruit and nuts, are great, these foods are sticky and can get caught in the pits and grooves of teeth, causing decay," says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Julie Barna, DMD, MAGD. "Reading nutrition labels and being sensible about the foods you and your children eat on a daily basis helps promote good oral and overall health."

Children should also brush three times a day for two minutes and rinse with a fluoridated mouthrinse.

Updated: February 2007