|
The
Truth About Bad Breath & What the Symptoms Mean
by Dr. Harold Katz, Founder
of
The
California Breath Clinics
Bad breath is caused by Anaerobic Sulfur
Producing Bacteria which normally live WITHIN the surface of the tongue and in the throat.
These bacteria are supposed to be there, because they assist humans in digestion by
breaking down proteins found in specific foods, mucous or phlegm, blood, and in diseased
or "broken-down" oral tissue. Under certain conditions, these bacteria
start to break down proteins at a very high rate. Proteins are made up of Amino
Acids. Two of the Amino Acids (Cysteine and Methionine) are dense with sulfur.
When
these "beneficial" bacteria come into contact with these compounds, the odorous
and "lousy-tasting" sulfur compounds are released from the back of the tongue
and throat, as Hydrogen Sulfide, Methyl Mercaptan, and other odorous and bad tasting
compounds. These "problem"
compounds are often referred to as Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC), where volatile means
Vaporous and Effervescent, two adjectives which accurately describe their ability to
offend other people instantly.
Because my original degree is in Bacteriology, let me
explain a very important fact about these "bugs". They are not "bad
guys" - they are not infectious. Everyone in the world has the same group of
bacteria in their mouth. You cannot "catch" bad breath from someone else -
even by kissing. Since they are part of our normal oral flora, you cannot
permanently remove them from your mouth - not by tongue scraping, not by antibiotics, and
not by rinses which claim to "lift the bacteria off your tongue". The only
scientifically proven and clinically effective method of halting Halitosis is by attacking
the bacteria's ability to produce VSC and by converting the VSC into non-odorous and
non-tasting organic salts. (I should know, I've personally treated nearly 10,000
people at my California Breath Clinics and I've helped thousands more through my
TheraBreath formulas. Take a look at a small fraction of testimonial letters to see What
Doesn't Work!)
Speaking about bacteria, there is
one other fact that you must understand about these bacteria. They are classified as
"Anaerobic" - which literally means "Without Oxygen". They
thrive in an environment where Oxygen is NOT present. That is why they DO NOT LIVE
ON THE SURFACE OF YOUR TONGUE! They live in between the papillae (fibers) that make up
your tongue!
A Microscopic "Slice" through the tongue:
 These
sulfur compounds are actually by-products of anaerobic bacteria (Fusobacterium and
Actinomyces, among others). Everyone needs these bacteria, because they assist the
digestion process. But, unfortunately, for some, as yet undetermined reason these
particular bacteria are found in higher numbers in those anguished by Bad Breath. (Various
theories attribute this to hormonal changes, a history of medications, usually antibiotics
or sulfa drugs-which create an imbalance of oral bacteria, or even Genetics-these
disorders appear to run in some families.) We do know however, that it seems to be evenly
split between men and women.
Conditions
under which the problem becomes worse:
DRY MOUTH
Although some cases of dry mouth are naturally occurring, most cases are caused by
one of these factors; prescription medications (usually prescribed for high blood pressure
or depression) antihistamines, adult beverages, and mouthwashes with alcohol in them.
(see "Why Regular Products Don't Work")
When your mouth is dryer, you have less Saliva. Saliva naturally contains Oxygen, which
keeps your mouth healthy and fresh. These bacteria are anaerobic, which simply means that
they will thrive and make more sulfur in the presence of little or no oxygen. Thus if you
have less Saliva, you have less oxygen, thereby creating an anaerobic environment, perfect
for the bacteria to produce more of these odorous and sour/bitter compounds.
POST NASAL DRIP
We know that proteins contain amino acids, which in turn contain sulfur compounds
(see text above). When a person has a post nasal drip, mucus drains and coats the back of
the tongue and throat, exactly where bacteria live (see diagram above). Since
mucus is made up of interlinked strands of protein, the bacteria have a field day,
breaking down these proteins into odorous and sour tasting sulfur type compounds. Strong
Antihistamines don't help, because the drying effect of the antihistamines also creates a
problem. The only method of ending the odor and taste are to use Oxyd-VIII based oral
products.
What about the sinuses? After
personally treating nearly 9,000 people worldwide, I have yet to see a patient get rid of
his bad breath following sinus surgery. First of all, these anaerobic bacteria
cannot live in the sinuses. When someone has a sinus infection, one of the common symptoms
are intense sinus headaches, caused by the pressure from the infection in the sinus.
If you don't have these powerful headaches, you probably don't have a sinus
problem. The fact is that once someone has an elevated amount of these anaerobic
bacteria, they will create the problem from any protein source, including mucous, phlegm,
etc, which drain down the back of your throat into the area where these bacteria live.
HIGH PROTEIN FOODS
These bacteria love those proteins, and certain foods
are packed with them:
Milk and Cheese and most other dairy products. (The fat content does not
matter.) If you are lactose intolerant, do not eat or drink these products! Since your
system cannot digest them properly, they are available to the bacteria for an extended
period of time. A recent research article from the Los Angeles Times (November 1996) on
lactose intolerance showed that nearly 67% of all Americans can be classified as
"Lactose Intolerant". This is due to the fact that in a diverse population such
as we have here, there is a predilection for Asians, Hispanics, and African-Americans to
be lactose intolerant.
Fish are high in proteins. As many people eat a high fish diet, logically they make the
problem worse.
Coffee with caffeine (and even without) contains high levels of acids which cause the
bacteria to reproduce more rapidly and create a bitter taste for many people. (Virtually
any acidic type of food will do this.)
Coffee drinking was one of the problems that my patients used to have. After starting my
treatment, they have been able to go back to coffee drinking (in moderation of course)
without any bitter tastes afterward.
What Works?
Oxyd-VIII is the active ingredient in Dr. Katz's products. It prevents the anaerobic
bacteria from creating the odorous sulfide and Mercaptan compounds by "adding
oxygen" to the environment. The end result is the formation of a "Sulfate",
which has no odor or taste.
The Halimeter
When people come to the California
Breath Clinics seeking help for their bad breath, the first thing Dr. Katz does is read
their Anaerobic Sulfur Producing Bacteria level. This is done on a machine called the
"Halimeter". People are asked to blow into a straw that is attached to the tube
(seen here).
The Halimeter is able to measure the concentration of the Sulfide Molecules in bad breath
and determine if indeed someone has Halitosis. The borderline reading is about 75
ppb (parts per billion), based on a study done in the early 1990's in Japan.
After smelling various concentrations of sulfide compounds, a group of test subjects
agreed that they started to smell unpleasant odors at the 75 ppb mark. The other
significant reading is 120, the point at which everyone in the study agreed there was a
disagreeable odor.
Dr. Katz has used these "proven" readings
to test thousands of people at his Clinics, and others in Europe during his visits to
London. The Halimeter is also used to the efficacy of TheraBreath vs. other
so-called "breath-refreshing" compounds.
The Halimeter is the basic instrument in testing bad
breath. You should question your dentist if they attempt to determine your breath
disorder status, without a Halimeter. It is the most basic way to determine if a
problem exists. A professional who "tests" your breath by attempting to
smell your exhaled air, is doing you a disservice.
 pH
is a term used to describe the acidity of the environment. (see table)
The oral cavity has a normal pH of 6.5 (7 is neutral) which is in the acid range. We know
that acids make the bacteria reproduce much faster. In order to decrease the production of
odorous sulfur compounds, we need to neutralize the acid environment. Our products are the
only ones to be pH balanced in such a manner to do this most effectively. That is why our
products do not leave a strange aftertaste like our competitors products. As one patient
recently told me: "I'm so glad I found your products. The taste of (a competitorıs
product) was worse than having the problem." Another dentist told me that his
patients complain about the taste of my competitor's products. He's heard them describe
the flavor as "tasting like vomit!"
Why brushing
and scraping your tongue without our products
doesn't work!!
These bacteria are anaerobic (which means they cannot live near oxygen). All humans have
oxygen in their oral cavity when they breathe. But since these bacteria cannot live on the
surface of the tongue (remember the oxygen kills them off), they have buried themselves
deep between the papillae (the fibers) that make up your tongue. That is why scraping and
brushing your tongue with standard toothpaste and mouthwash don't work!! You are missing
the bacteria totally. The white coating on the tongue is a collection of sulfides that
come to the surface. It is not the bacteria! The bacteria are much farther down and cannot
be removed physically.
Why Antibiotics
don't work (and can actually make the problem worse!)
The bacteria involved in this problem are not infectious bacteria. They are actually
beneficial bacteria which are assisting us in digestion. If antibiotics specifically for
this group are used , the problem will go away (for about two days)...but your
body will sense that they are missing, and will then create resistant strains of the same
bacteria, and the problems will come back.
If your doctor persists on making you use antibiotics for bad breath
and sour tastes, you should be aware that you may end up with an oral yeast infection.
This is due to the fact that you will be creating an imbalance of your normal oral
bacterial level, which allows yeast, funguses, etc. to enter and give you disorders such
as Thrush (Candidiasis). Ask for a second opinion if your doctor pushes you to take too
many antibiotics, or for a long period of time.
Bad Breath is Not Your Typical Oral Hygiene Problem:
I would like to make the next point very clear. This is
typically NOT AN ORAL HYGIENE PROBLEM. As many of you know
personally, you can brush and floss perfectly 6-7 times daily and STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
(I know that your family dentist may tell you otherwise). For those of you
who have suffered needlessly for years and years, you most likely go out of your way to
have excellent hygiene habits. Furthermore, roughly 35% of patients that I have personally
treated in California have undergone surgical or scaling treatments by Periodontists
without any relief. (Please understand, brushing and flossing are important with regards
to periodontal health...you need to keep them clean so that your teeth remain in good
condition. It just is not the major cause of bad breath.)
The problem with constant brushing and flossing has to do with the lousy
ingredients in oral products and how they can actually make your breath worse. (see
Other Oral Products)
Contrary to what you have learned in the past and are probably
currently hearing in commercials for ineffective "breath capsules", BAD BREATH
DOES NOT COME FROM THE STOMACH, except in extremely rare instances due to a weakening of
muscles that line the esophagus. ( To give you an indication, I have seen two of these
cases out of nearly 10,000 patients.) Odor-causing Bacteria, located on the back
surface of your tongue, on the roof of your mouth, in your throat, and in some cases on
the surface of your tonsils, if still present [which may produce white odorous globules
called Tonsiloliths], are the real source of the problem. That is why your tongue may be
discolored from rosy pink to a whitish color.) No one knows how the unfortunate myth of
"the stomach as the cause of bad breath" began, but it has postponed proper
treatment to millions of sufferers for many years. Some of you have even undergone
unnecessary medical & dental procedures, including unwarranted painful & costly
surgeries to terminate a condition that affects both your business & personal life.
From these experiences, we also realized that Bad Breath and its related disorders are not
caused by the sinuses, or lung diseases.
Because we developed our techniques and procedures after clinical
trials on our own family members, we know that we have the most effective and safest
treatment to conquer and control Chronic Bad Breath. It does not involve any injections or
surgery of any type and is completely painless. Your Medical/Dental problem is shared by
an estimated 20% of the World's population. Using the combined experience of 61 years in
Medicine, Dentistry, Bacteriology, and Biology, we have established The California Breath
Clinics, based on the most current research in these fields. This data has shown that 98%
of all cases of Chronic Bad Breath originate in the MOUTH (NOT IN THE STOMACH, SINUSES, OR
LUNGS).
A few of the common of the signs of this misunderstood problem
are:
|
|
|
|
-
High levels of Postnasal Drip or mucous in the throat. (This
doesn't cause the problem, but actually makes it worse, because these bacteria
prefer to break down proteins (which have high levels of sulfur
content). Mucous is high in
proteins.
|
-
Dryness in the mouth, extreme morning breath, or evidence of
thicker saliva. (Saliva naturally contains oxygen. The drier your mouth or the thicker your
saliva, the lower your oxygen level in your mouth. Therefore, you create an anaerobic
environment, perfect for these bacteria.)
|
-
An increase in bad breath, following foods,
mouthwashes, during the menstrual cycle or other hormonal therapies (estrogen,
progesterone, etc.). Essentially humans are walking chemistry labs: food, alcohol,
hormones, etc.. as chemicals to stimulate the bacteria.
|
|
To
Order Any Product On-line, Click Here or Call
1-888-373-7488
COMPLETE TABLE OF CONTENTS
You can Buy Our Products in These
Stores
Test your own Breath for
FREE Testimonials
NEW products HOME
Know Somebody with Bad Breath, but
can't tell them? We'll do it for You
|
|
