Bad Breath and Medications
Alexa’s article summary:
Many people are unaware that the medications that they’ve been taking for years have actually contributed to their bad breath and taste disorder.It all boils down to the unfortunate side-effects of many medications which include dry mouth and alteration in taste perception.
According to Dr. Harold Katz, the most recent research on prescription medications, 7 out of the top 10 medications used in the US during 1998 had "dry mouth, bad breath, or taste disorders" as a side effect.
To understand what the link between halitosis and medications is, we really need to have a clearer understanding of what the causes of bad breath really are?
Bad breath is caused by a bacteria that lives in the mouth in the throat or in the tongue. These bacteria are not harmful in themselves, and are meant to be there in the mouth. There role is to help break down proteins that have found their way into the oral cavity. If these proteins contain sulfur, then bad breath, or halitosis can result.
So, from this it can be taken that the cause of bad breath can be found in what we take on board rather than a condition or illness that we we have developed.
So, what has this to do with halitosis and medications?
There are a number of substances that are known to make bad breath worse. Two of these are sugar (for sugar read sugars and sweeteners) and alcohol.Alcohol (as most of us know) actually dries out the mouth. You will, I am sure, know that alcohol dehydrates you, and this has an effect on the mouth as well. And when the mouth is dry, bad breath gets worse.Saliva helps oxygenate your mouth, and lack of oxygen helps promote bad breath.
The sugars themselves help feed the bacteria, which act more effectively in breaking down the sulfur in the proteins in the mouth, so in fact, they make the mouth more efficient in producing bad breath.
So, if the medications that you take contain alcohol, sugar or sweeteners, then you could be making your halitosis worse rather than better!
If we look back at the first point we made, we know that bad breath originates in the proteins that we take on board. So, it stands to reason that if you cut down on sulfur bearing proteins, then you will have a positive effect on bad breath.Dairy products (milk and cheese for example) are one type of food that can cause bad breath. Excess coffee is another.
Regular cleaning and flossing can also go a long way to helping reduce bad breath as can taking adequate quantities of water as well.
About the Author: Personal Health Advice is a web site devoted to personal helath problems, their causes and their cures. http://www.personal-health-advice.com/halitosis_medications.html
Alexa’s article conclusion:
It is important to understand what illnesses and medications may be the cause of your bad breath. Obviously, the first place is to check with your physician.
Researching on the Internet is a viable alternative. When I was going through chemotherapy and radiation therapy, I was constantly comparing the drugs I was prescribed vs. how I was feeling and how my body was responding.
I only recommend twoproducts because I have tested them personally myself. Both work, it isjust a matter of preference:
Therabreath - There is a free trialright now that would be good for you to try risk free.
NativeRemedies - Halitonic - Natural remedy for bad breath
