Bad Breath

Bad breath is caused by foul-smelling chemical compounds expelled via the breath.  The most common causative agents are sulfuric compounds such as hydrogen sulfide.  Poor digestion is the most common reason for these gases being expelled via the breath.

Other cause of bad breath include:

· Chronic constipation

· Giardiasis

· Liver malfunction

· Mouth Ulcers

· Periodontal disease

· Tooth decay

· Sinusitis

· Tonsillitis

· Common cold

· Thrush (Candida albicans)

The following therapies may prevent or treat bad breath:

Betaine HCl:

Rationale:

Insufficient production of hydrochloric acid (known as hypochlorhydria) is a common cause of bad breath.  If your digestive system has insufficient hydrochloric acid to properly digest food, the offensive gases associated with bad breath are more likely to be produced.  Betaine HCl is a source of supplemental hydrochloric acid.

Dosage:

400 - 800 mg prior to each meal (a total of 1,200 - 2,400 mg per day).

Supplemental betaine hydrochloride should be taken with a large glass of water.

Zinc:

Rationale:

When zinc is included as an active component of mouthwashes or toothpaste, it helps to neutralize the volatile sulfuric compounds (such as hydrogen sulfide) that are responsible for the offensive odor of bad breath.

Oral zinc supplements (especially zinc lozenges) exert this same effect.

Dosage:

Use a brand of toothpaste or mouthwash that includes zinc as one of its active ingredients.

Alternatively zinc lozenges can be used.

Vitamin C:

Rationale:

A clinical study found that vitamin C can neutralize the volatile sulfuric compounds (such as hydrogen sulfide) that cause bad breath.

Dosage:

3,000 – 5,000 mg per day

Charcoal:

Rationale:

Charcoal tablets help to eliminate toxins from the digestive tract.  The elimination of toxins takes away their ability to produce the gases responsible for bad breath.

Dosage:

1,500 mg per day.

Tea Tree Oil:

Rationale:

When diluted and used as a mouthwash, tea tree oil may temporarily eliminate bad breath.  As well as covering up offensive odors emanating from the mouth, tea tree oil kills many toxic bacteria that reside in the mouth, eliminating their ability to produce toxins that are present in the odor of bad breath.

Dosage:

Dilute tea tree oil in water and swirl around in your mouth for about one minute.

References

Betaine HCl

· Mervyn, L.  Thorsons Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals (2nd Edition).  Thorsons Publishing Group, Wellingborough, England.  1989:19.

Tea Tree Oil

· Tea tree oil:  the remedy from down under.  Energy Times.  10(2):14, 2000.

Vitamin C

· Larsson, B. T.  A gas chromatographic study of the effect of ascorbic acid oxidation on the formation of volatiles in saliva samples.  Scand J Dent Res.  81(1):22-26, 1973.

Zinc

· Rolla, G., et al.  The significance of the source of zinc and its anti-VSC effect.  Int Dent J.  52(3 Supplement):233-235, 2002.

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