Halitosis

Avoid the Kiss of Death

An Acerbic Tongue Means Sour Words and Sour Breath

NEW YORK, N.Y.-In addition to the usual assortment of make-up, cologne and perfumes, the pockets of many would-be romancers are often crammed with every breath mint, gum and spray on the market. But more likely than not, the fruits of this multi-billion-dollar industry will do little to keep your breath from knocking your date off his or her feet.

The technical term for bad breath is halitosis, and more than 40 million Americans bring this unwelcome guest along for the romantic ride. And while for 90% of us there is no cure, there are some things folks should know to better arm themselves against it.

Contrary to popular belief, bad breath has far less to do with what you put in your stomach than with what goes on naturally in your mouth. "For the most part, bad breath is simply the result of too many sulphides on your tongue," says Dr. Clifford Williams, top New York dentist and oral hygiene expert. "As gross as it might sound, the body and mouth naturally breed more than 200 types of bacteria that manifest themselves on the tongue creating the ‘rotten egg’ smell associated with halitosis."

To combat this, Dr. Williams recommends taking a moment to address that part of your mouth. "If you’re already brushing your teeth, take a few seconds to brush or scrape your tongue," continues Williams. "Also try a mouthwash that contains zinc oxide, which neutralizes the sulphur."

Dr. Williams adds that folks should pay more attention to oral hygiene in general. "Anything foreign in the mouth such as a food particles stuck in your teeth or gums is just going to exacerbate the production of bacteria," he says. "Rinsing, flossing and seeing your dentist for regular check-ups aren’t just good ideas for fighting tooth decay-they’ll help you battle halitosis, as well."

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