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Foods To Avoid That Cause Bad Breath
By Dr. Harold Katz, Fri Dec 9th

Did you know that there are specific foods that may lead to badbreath? This is because of volatile sulfur compounds - theculprit in causing bad breath!

For example, if food sits out too long it will spoil. Thatspoiling action is due to anaerobic bacteria breaking downproteins in that particular food. In milk, the odor of sour milkis caused by relatives of the bugs that create whenthey break down proteins in the milk (and basically in all dairyfoods). A reaction takes place where 'the bugs'extract sulfur compounds from the amino acids in these proteins.Specifically, the amino acid Cysteine is converted to HydrogenSulfide (which has a rotten egg smell) and Methionine becomesMethyl Mercaptan (which smells like a cross between old socksand garlic). The same analogy applies to meat if it sits out toolong.

Everyone knows that onions and garlic will create bad breath.But do you know why? It's because the odorous molecules inonions and garlic are actually sulfur compounds themselvescalled Mercaptans. Sulfur is nature's way of creating odors.You're all familiar with the skunk. Its odor is created by adefense and/or attack mechanism. Skunk odor is made up ofskatoles, which are naturally occurring sulfur compounds. In asimilar fashion, bacteria in your mouth creates the volatilesulfur compounds of and taste disorders.

There are 4 food categories that will result in an increase ofsulfur production because these categories have a stimulatingaffect on the bacteria that cause bad breath: 1. Drying Agents2. Dense Protein Foods 3. Sugars 4. Acidic Foods Let's lookclosely at each of these food categories and how they stimulatebad breath! DRYING AGENTS The most common drying agent in foodis 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 grocerystores, which only makes a problem worse. Alcohol,known chemically as a desiccant, is used quite often inlaboratories to "dry out" hard to reach areas in test tubes andbeakers. The same end result takes place in the oral cavity.Although cigarettes are not really food, smoking is probably thequickest way to dry out your mouth, with alcohol being thesecond. If you smoke, you are bound to have bad breath! DENSEPROTEIN FOODS Dairy foods are notorious for creating bad breath.An article that appeared in the "Los Angeles Times" once notedthat over 50% of the population in Southern California was"lactose intolerant". With regards to bad breath, many of thesepeople (numbering in the tens of millions) end up with moredense proteins available as fuel for the bacteriathan those who have no problem with dairy foods like milk,cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc. The end result is a buildup ofamino acids, which are easily converted into volatile

sulfurcompounds by the anaerobic bacteria found within the surface ofyour tongue and throat. To a lesser extent, people have the sameproblem with other types of food that are considered to be densein protein such as beef, chicken, and fish. Another problem,thankfully rare, has to do with people who have an inability tobreak down certain proteins found in beans. This condition iscalled TMA (Trimethylaminuria) and is sometimes known as the"Fish Odor Syndrome," because the odor produced is similar todecaying fish. The odor consists of sulfur compounds, plusnitrogen compounds (amines). People with this condition mustabstain from beans and other types of food that are dense inprotein. SUGARS Wouldn't it be great if we could get rid of badbreath by chewing on M&Ms? Or what if the cure for bad breathwere Hershey Kisses? That's what the makers of Altoids wouldhave 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" ofyour breath. This is so anti-scientific it's absurd! If youthink about it for a minute, it really doesn't make any sense.By using concentrated mint flavorings, your taste buds pick upmint as a taste. However, Altoids contains two types of sugarwhich again, are a fuel for the bacteria to reproduce and createmore sulfur compounds - thus bad breath. In addition, thefrightening part is that other bacteria can take the sugars andproduce glycan strands, which in turn end up causing thicklayers of plaque on the enamel of your teeth and around yourgums. This leads to tooth decay and gum disease - and youguessed it - worse breath than you started with! Since you can'tsmell your own breath, you just go merrily along with that greatstrong mint taste in your mouth, while others close to you arebacking away - backing away from your increased bad breath,decayed teeth, and gross, swollen, bleeding gums! Stay away fromcandies, mints, and chewing gum if they contain sugar! Instead,let me recommend an alternative created by TheraBreath calledthe TheraBreath Oxygenating Chewing Gum(http://www.therabreath.com/products.asp?CAT=5). It releasesOxygen molecules directly into your mouth and also contains theantibacterial agent, Zinc Gluconate. This agent is found in manycold medications. In addition it contains Xylitol, which is anatural sweetening agent with an anti-decay compound. ACIDICFOODS Foods with a high acidic content are a problem as well. pHis a term used to describe the acidity of an environment. Theoral cavity has a normal pH of 6.5 (7 is considered neutral).Some of the foods you should watch out for are coffee and manycitrus juices. Both decaffeinated and regular coffee containacids. However, tea is okay. Among the citrus juices the oneswith the highest acidic content include tomato juice, orangejuice, pineapple juice, and grapefruit juice. We know that acidsmake the bacteria reproduce much faster. In order to decreasethe production of odorous sulfur compounds, the acid environmentneeds to be neutralized. What can you learn from all this?Avoiding foods that contribute to, if not cause, isvital if you want to have clean fresh breath. While this is adifficult task, being aware of these causing elementsis the first step in developing confidence in your breath. Inaddition, it is important to use oral care products that arefree of alcohol, sugar, and that also have a high pH level. Dr.Harold Katz is the worldwide expert on the topics of bad breath,halitosis, and dry mouth. Searching for a solution?To receive your FREE copy of his easy-to-read "Bad Breath Bible"visit: http://www.TheraBreath.com/web/art/L-FTCBB.asp

About the author:Dr. Harold Katz is the worldwide expert on the topics of badbreath, halitosis, and dry mouth. Searching for a bad breathsolution? To receive your FREE copy of his easy-to-read "BadBreath Bible" visit:http://www.TheraBreath.com/web/art/L-FTCBB.asp

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