Did you know that there are specific foods that may

lead to bad breath? This is because of volatile sulfur

compounds - the culprit in causing bad breath!

For example, if food sits out too long it will spoil. That

spoiling action is due to anaerobic bacteria breaking

down proteins in that particular food. In milk, the odor

of sour milk is caused by relatives of the bugs that

create bad breath when they break down proteins in

the milk (and basically in all dairy foods). A reaction

takes place where 'the bad breath bugs' extract sulfur

compounds from the amino acids in these proteins.

Specifically, the amino acid Cysteine is converted to

Hydrogen Sulfide (which has a rotten egg smell) and

Methionine becomes Methyl Mercaptan (which smells

like a cross between old socks and garlic). The same

analogy applies to meat if it sits out too long.

Everyone knows that onions and garlic will create bad

breath. But do you know why? It's because the

odorous molecules in onions and garlic are actually

sulfur compounds themselves called Mercaptans. Sulfur

is nature's way of creating odors. You're all familiar

with the skunk. Its odor is created by a defense and/or

attack mechanism. Skunk odor is made up of skatoles,

which are naturally occurring sulfur compounds. In a

similar fashion, bacteria in your mouth creates the

volatile sulfur compounds of bad breath and taste

disorders.

There are 4 food categories that will result in an

increase of sulfur production because these categories

have a stimulating affect on the bacteria that cause

bad breath:

1. Drying Agents

2. Dense Protein Foods

3. Sugars

4. Acidic Foods

Let's look closely at each of these food categories and

how they stimulate bad breath!

DRYING AGENTS

The most common drying agent in food is alcohol.

Alcohol of course, is the basis of all "adult" beverages

such as beer, wine, and hard liquor. It is also used,

unfortunately, in many mouthwashes you find in the

grocery stores, which only makes a bad breath

problem worse.

Alcohol, known chemically as a desiccant, is used quite

often in laboratories to "dry out" hard to reach areas in

test tubes and beakers. The same end result takes

place in the oral cavity.

Although cigarettes are not really food, smoking is

probably the quickest way to dry out your mouth, with

alcohol being the second. If you smoke, you are bound

to have bad breath!

DENSE PROTEIN FOODS

Dairy foods are notorious for creating bad breath. An

article that appeared in the "Los Angeles Times" once

noted that over 50% of the population in Southern

California was "lactose intolerant". With regards to bad

breath, many of these people (numbering in the tens

of millions) end up with more dense proteins available

as bad breath fuel for the bacteria than those who

have no problem with dairy foods like milk, cheese,

yogurt, ice cream, etc. The end result is a buildup of

amino acids, which are easily converted into volatile

sulfur compounds by the anaerobic bacteria found

within the surface of your tongue and throat.

To a lesser extent, people have the same problem

with other types of food that are considered to be

dense in protein such as beef, chicken, and fish.

Another problem, thankfully rare, has to do with

people who have an inability to break down certain

proteins found in beans. This condition is called TMA

(Trimethylaminuria) and is sometimes known as the

"Fish Odor Syndrome," because the odor produced is

similar to decaying fish. The odor consists of sulfur

compounds, plus nitrogen compounds (amines). People

with this condition must abstain from beans and other

types of food that are dense in protein.

SUGARS

Wouldn't it be great if we could get rid of bad breath

by chewing on M&Ms? Or what if the cure for bad

breath were Hershey Kisses?

That's what the makers of Altoids would have you

believe. Altoids, and other products of the same ilk, are

trying to fool the public into believing that a strong

"good" taste in your mouth is equivalent to the

"freshness" of your breath. This is so anti-scientific it's

absurd! If you think about it for a minute, it really

doesn't make any sense.

By using concentrated mint flavorings, your taste buds

pick up mint as a taste. However, Altoids contains two

types of sugar which again, are a fuel for the bacteria

to reproduce and create more sulfur compounds - thus

bad breath. In addition, the frightening part is that

other bacteria can take the sugars and produce glycan

strands, which in turn end up causing thick layers of

plaque on the enamel of your teeth and around your

gums. This leads to tooth decay and gum disease - and

you guessed it - worse breath than you started with!

Since you can't smell your own breath, you just go

merrily along with that great strong mint taste in your

mouth, while others close to you are backing away -

backing away from your increased bad breath, decayed

teeth, and gross, swollen, bleeding gums!

Stay away from candies, mints, and chewing gum if

they contain sugar! Instead, let me recommend an

alternative created by TheraBreath called the

TheraBreath Oxygenating Chewing Gum

(http://www.therabreath.com/products.asp?CAT=5). It

releases Oxygen molecules directly into your mouth

and also contains the antibacterial agent, Zinc

Gluconate. This agent is found in many cold

medications. In addition it contains Xylitol, which is a

natural sweetening agent with an anti-decay

compound.

ACIDIC FOODS

Foods with a high acidic content are a problem as well.

pH is a term used to describe the acidity of an

environment. The oral cavity has a normal pH of 6.5 (7

is considered neutral). Some of the foods you should

watch out for are coffee and many citrus juices. Both

decaffeinated and regular coffee contain acids.

However, tea is okay. Among the citrus juices the ones

with the highest acidic content include tomato juice,

orange juice, pineapple juice, and grapefruit juice.

We know that acids make the bacteria reproduce

much faster. In order to decrease the production of

odorous sulfur compounds, the acid environment

needs to be neutralized.

What can you learn from all this? Avoiding foods that

contribute to, if not cause, bad breath is vital if you

want to have clean fresh breath. While this is a difficult

task, being aware of these bad breath causing

elements is the first step in developing confidence in

your breath. In addition, it is important to use oral care

products that are free of alcohol, sugar, and that also

have a high pH level.