The Bad Breath Blog

Few things evoke a wincing quite like the mention of a canker sore.  Not to be used confused with cold sores (although those are equally disliked) canker sores are those annoying and painful sores that develop in your mouth, making it hard to eat, drink and even talk when they are at their prime. Canker sores are fairly common and short-lived (although it doesn’t seem like it while you have one). Here are some articles that discuss these pesky sores and how you can avoid them.

Having a canker sore is hard to ignore. A canker sore is an erosion of the inner membranes of the mouth and along with pain; they can also cause bad breath. What causes a canker sore? They occur because of bacterial infections but sometimes a small cut or other vexation is the culprit for inviting this microbial growth. What is the best way to try to avoid canker sores? Stay away from mouthwashes and toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or alcohol. These ingredients can irritate and dry out your tongue, checks and gums which can lead to inflammation of the delicate tissue in your mouth where canker sores occur.  These inflammations may attract bacteria, leading to a canker sore. Avoiding products with these ingredients can reduce your risk of getting an aphthous ulcer (which is what a canker sore is). If you do get canker sores frequently, you aren’t alone. An article in the British Medical Journal stated that canker sores are the most common condition of the mouth’s membranes in developed countries. Also, don’t worry about spreading the sores to your friends – they aren’t contagious.

Looking for another way to possible eliminate getting canker sores? David Zabriskie, a 32 year old road bicycle racer that participated in his sixth Tour de France this year told the UK Daily Mail what he plans to do to stop canker sores. He’s gone vegan! Not only has eliminating eggs, dairy products and meat from his diet and replacing them with protein-rich seeds and rice stopped his canker sores and saddle rash, but he also stated that this change in diet has actually boosted his performance. Is this just a rare occurrence that David is lucky enough to reap the benefits of? According to several sources, it has been noted that dietary changes can help stop and treat canker sores. Specifically, a study in the Journal of American Board of Family Medicine found that by increasing one’s vitamin B12 levels can help to heal canker sores more quickly. No doubt a change in Zabriskie’s diet gave him a boost of B12, which is also known for increasing energy. Experts still aren’t fully endorsing becoming vegan to eliminate canker sores, but it could be a healthy side effect of making the switch. Rather, since these aphthous ulcers are caused by irritation, dentists are telling patients to avoid oral care products that contain harsh chemicals like SLS and alcohol which can inflame the tissue of the cheeks and gums where canker sores often appear.

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Many toothpastes and mouthwashes at the drug store often contain dyes to give them their bright and attractive colors. It’s a great marketing tactic. However, HealthDay News reports that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold a panel of healthcare experts to determine whether or not these dyes are linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

As many parents know, there are many cases of ADHD in the US. Almost 10 percent of children from age 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with this disease, according to estimates done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s about 5.4 million American children and teens!

There currently is not a clear connection established between food dyes and ADHD, however many experts have already commented saying they do suspect a connection. David Schaub, a psychiatric researcher, professor at Columbia University and FDA panel member told HealthDay News that the upcoming discussion is a “big step forward.”

While the link is still unsure, why risk it? As you probably already know, all of TheraBreath products are free of artificial dyes and preservatives. It’s also important to steer clear of alcohol, sugar and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).  Just click on the links if you want to learn more.

When we do the daily routine of brushing, rinsing and flossing at least twice a day, we all have a common goal: a healthy mouth and teeth. However, one specific ingredient in your oral care products may actually be hurting your oral health rather than helping it.

Do you suffer from cold or canker sores? Then you may want to check the ingredients in your toothpaste. Research done by clinical professor of oral biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, Fariba Younai recently gave a talk that discussed sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) – a common ingredient in many toothpastes.  Dr. Younai’s research shows that SLS can increase the chances of chronic aphthous ulcers (cold sores) for people with less than perfect immune systems.

What is SLS? It’s a surfactant which is a type of foaming or wetting agent found in many of your common toothpastes. It creates the foaming action while you brush with the toothpaste. However, this foam is only to make the user think that the product is more effective, it actually doesn’t have any added benefit – actually the converse. Past studies have noted that SLS can irritate the walls of the inner cheeks, gums and underside of lips where the toothpaste has the most contact with skin.

Dr. Younai suggested the use of TheraBreath toothpaste amongst the recommended brands that are SLS-free. TheraBreath toothpaste does not contain SLS and will not have the same risk of sores developing in the interior of the mouth – just another benefit of using TheraBreath products. Not only do they keep your breath fresh, you also won’t have to worry about dealing with constant and reoccurring painful cold sores.

It’s one of the best scenes in “A Christmas Story”. You know the one, when the main character Ralphie says a bad word and has to sit in the bathroom with that red bar of soap in his mouth and fantasizes about how awful his parents will feel when he becomes blind from soap poisoning. He is definitely not alone. As children, many adults feared and dreaded having their mouths washed out with soap – and with good reason. This foul tasting punishment might actually have worked!

According to momlogic.com, there was a study conducted by the University of Michigan to see if lying would make people want to buy certain cleaning products to rid themselves of the dirty lies. 87 students were asked to pretend they were lying or telling the truth to a coworker via email or phone. The students then had to rate how much they wanted mouthwash or hand sanitizer.

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