February is National Pet Dental Month!  According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats allegedly have symptoms of dental disease by age three!  Beyond that, oral disease is also the most commonly diagnosed health issue for our canine and feline friends.  We may hear about bad breath in pets all the time, but that doesn’t mean that it could be caused by something serious. 

Periodontal disease has the same roots in dogs and cats as it does in people.  Bacteria from food can build up in the oral cavity, and if it’s left untreated, the bacteria cause plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth and gumline.  Over time, if the buildup is neglected, periodontitis can form, which is an irreversible condition involving gum inflammation and infection.  If the gums are inflamed, they become separated from the teeth, thus allowing bacteria to enter and attack the tooth’s root.  Furthermore, bacteria can also enter the bloodstream and venture on over to the heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs, and cause serious problems.

These are all reasons as to why it is very important to be proactive about protecting your pet’s health.  Some warning signs that you can look for in your pet are: bad breath, yellow-brown crust on the teeth, bleeding gums, changes in eating/chewing habits, pawing at the mouth, and/or depression.  These are all potential signs that the pet has an infection, and you should schedule a dental checkup as soon as you can.  If the pet is in good health, one should schedule regular veterinarian visits anyway.   A pet owner should schedule a professional cleaning to have the following done: tartar removal, cavity/growth check, diseased teeth extracted, and tooth polishing.  Tooth polishing helps prevent the formation of new plaque/tartar buildup. 

You should also practice regular brushing with your pet, and follow a home care regimen.  You can introduce toothpaste to your pets by using a small amount on your finger and rubbing it on their teeth.   Make sure to use a toothpaste that is specially made for cats and dogs.  The next step is to have the pet lick the bristles of a toothbrush with the toothpaste on it.  Then, you can begin brushing its teeth.  This should be done twice every week.  Don’t give up if your pet doesn’t seem willing to have its teeth brushed. 

Also, certain pet foods actually help plaque/tartar removal, so you can look for that in stores.  Ask your pet’s doctor for any advice.  Good luck and spread the word!

Dr. Harold Katz, also known as the “Bad Breath Doctor or the “Bad Breath Guru“, toured the country testing people for halitosis.  When Dr. Katz tests people’s bad breath, he uses a device called the ‘halimeter’.  A score above 100 means that someone likely has halitosis.  A person who has a score under 100 means that their breath is fairly fresh.  Many people were relieved when they found out that they had low scores on the halimeter. 

Unfortunately, it’s hard for a person to smell his or her own breath.  Blowing in one’s own hand is not a way you can really test how bad your breath is.  According to Dr. Katz, he says “it’s a good way to smell your hand.”  So, how does one try to smell his or her own breath?  Dr. Katz says that if you lick the back of your hand, allow it to dry, you can smell if you have halitosis.   Allegedly, the halitosis-causing bacteria will remain on the back of your hand, thus letting you know that you might have bad breath. 

All in all, Phoenix passed the “Bad Breath Test“, since Dr. Katz couldn’t find anyone with dragon breath!   That means that the Phoenicians are “kissable”, just in the nick of time for Valentine’s Day. 

Source: Phoenix Metro News

Unfortunately, pregnant women with bad breath may have a problem that is staggering in its implications.  Previously, we have discussed the relationship between gum disease and reproductive health (pregnancy gingivitis), which can result in a baby being born prematurely.  Research shows that the bad breath-causing bacteria may even be linked to stillbirths.

Allegedly, the oral bacteria can be transferred to the placenta if it enters the blood stream through open sores in the gums.  The unborn child is not equipped to fight the disease with its immune system in the same manner an adult can. 

Since bleeding gums/pregnancy gingivitis is extremely common among pregnant women, it is vital that expecting mothers brush and floss frequently during the day, after snacks and meals.  Surgery may be needed for serious infections. 

Whereas pregnancy gingivitis is common, the possibility of having a stillbirth is not.  Nonetheless, taking healthy steps will make pregnancy easier and reduce anxiety levels.  Here are some tips for practicing good oral hygiene:

- Go to the dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
- Brush your teeth at least 2-3 times a day, ideally after every meal and snack.  This prevents plaque/tartar building up.
- Floss after every meal.
- Use an oral rinse (like TheraBreath) at least 2 times a day. 
- Use a tongue scraper to prevent the bad breath-causing bacteria from building up.
- Eat healthier (more vegetables, less sweets).

What’s another bad breath cure?  A scientist in Israeli has suggested using laser treatment to get rid of bad breath.  Allegedly, this 15-minute technique has worked on 53 patients with chronic halitosis. 

These patients were said to suffer from a form of bad breath that wafted from the tonsil region.  Generally, bad breath is caused by the buildup of anaerobic bacteria around the line of the gums and teeth.  These bacteria release a certain malodor, but in some cases, these bacteria can breed in the tonsil’s grooves. 

It is said that the laser treatment goes to the tonsil’s infected regions and creates scar tissue that seals the grooves, preventing bacteria from proliferating in those areas.  According to sources, more than half of the patients were cured with one laser treatment, and the others needed two or three laser treatments.

Most of us are used to the thought of dogs having bad breath, but that may not be a good thing. The dog could have serious health issues causing chronic halitosis. Bad breath is caused by the same anaerobic bacteria that causes this malodor in humans, and these bacteria generally give off a rotten egg smell, since a sulfur substance is excreted. True, dogs may eat and chew on things like rotten bones, and so on, but chronic bad breath can mean serious complications like periodontal disease. It’s a good idea to bring your dog to the vet to try and get a diagnosis. The vet will make some recommendations on what can remedy this condition, based on what causes it. Probiotics may even be helpful in remedying the halitosis. TheraBreath sells a formula specially designed for cats and dogs: just click here for our dog breath remedy. This way, you can make sure your dog kisses from Fido aren’t smelly!

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is mainly caused by a bacteria that is allegedly anaerobic. The bacteria lives off of dental plaque on the teeth and gum line. Plaque tends to build up in the places in the oral cavity that lack oxygen the most.

Certain foods can cause halitosis more than others, like onion, garlic, and other spices. The smell caused by anaerobic bacteria, however, lasts much longer and is stronger than the bad breath smell caused by certain herbs. These bacteria also get nourishment from certain foods we eat, especially meat, milk, and fish. That is why proper oral hygiene is so important!

Xerostamia, more commonly known as dry mouth, is a condition that occurs when there is a lack of saliva in the mouth. Saliva actually has a very important role in keeping the mouth clean and removing food particles. Without these actions, one is much more likely to have bad breath. The salivary glands tend to stop working when one is asleep, which is why morning breath is so common.

Certain medical conditions are known for causing halitosis. Sinus problems and discharges, as well as other biological secretions can come out of the oral cavity, thus contributing to the smell of malodor. Tonsillitis, chronic lung infections like bronchitis, gastritis and other throat infections can cause bad breath. Also, if one has diabetes and does not control it, he or she may have a fruity breath smell, whereas liver failure can cause a fishy smell.

Lastly, if you have any concerns about your medical condition, you should go see a licensed physician.

Happy new year everyone!  Since we all want a fresh start with the new year, why not also start with fresh breath? In order to combat bad breath, we need to know what causes it in the first place. Anaerobic bacteria exists in the biofilm that is formed on the tongue, and these bacteria break down proteins in food, resulting in the production of offensive smells due to gases like hydrogen sulphide and skatol.

Here are some tips to help avoid halitosis this new year:

1) Proper oral hygiene. One should gargle with lukewarm water after eating, even if it’s just a snack. Brushing should be done 2-3 times a day, and you should also use floss and a tongue scraper. Add TheraBreath to your daily regimen.
2) Proper brushing techniques. Avoid brushing too vigorously, as this does damage to the gums. Excessive brushing can damage tooth enamel. Try to brush the upper teeth in a downward direction, and the lower teeth in a upward direction.
3) Tooth picks
4) Food habits. Some foods that people eat are certainly smellier than others. Sometimes they say “an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but a raw onion a day keeps everybody away.” Also, try to maintain regularity in food timing.
5) Water intake. Keep hydrated to maintain a stable level of saliva.
6) Natural fresheners. Try spices like clove, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and cumin seed. Citrus fruits can help banish bad breath.

And if these bad breath cures do not work, try the following:
1) Remove the underlying cause. Get checked out for general and systemic diseases like gastric disorders, diabetes, fevers, liver diseases, etc. If you have an infection, antibiotics, antifungal and antiviral medicines can help. You may even want to try saliva-producing tablets.
2) Get regular dental checkups and cleanings. If you have caries, make sure they get filled.
3) Tonsillectomies can help if you have recurrent tonsilitis.
4) Homeopathy. In this case, medicines are selected based on the physical, mental, social, and emotional characteristics of a person.
5) Psychological counseling.  Sometimes chronic halitosis sufferers are very depressed and have the tendency to avoid the public. 

Good luck and happy 2010!

More people than you may think have gingivitis–up to half of the U.S. population.  Some people do not even realize that they have it, and they might have common symptoms like bad breath, and/or swollen, red and bleeding gums.  Gingivitis can cause complications like heart disease, pre-term birth, and diabetes if it is not treated.  Most of the time, people think it is caused by a lack of proper oral hygiene or the hormonal changes that occur during a woman’s pregnancy (pregnancy gingivitis). 

A new study, on the other hand, shows that genetics actually can play a major part in the onset and healing of gum disease.  The goal of this study was to pinpoint various changes on a molecular level during the onset and healing processes of the disease.  Research showed that ~30% of the human body’s genes are expressed differently during the formation and healing of gingivitis.  How one reacts to gingivitis depends greatly on how the body’s immune system is activated.  The findings of the study enabled scientists to identify certain biological pathways activated by the onset and remediation of gingivitis, including energy metabolism, immunity response, neural processes, vasculature, chemotaxis, steroid metabolism and wound healing.  The information gathered from this study should certainly help scientists and doctors come up with better cures for gingivitis.

FACT: There are two primary places for the FLU VIRUS (H1N1 and others) to enter your body and cause you to become infected. These two places are YOUR NOSE and YOUR MOUTH. Minimizing the ability of germs to get into your system through those two places is one of best and easiest ways to stay healthy this flu season.

Here are some tips to help you avoid “leaving an open door” for the potentially deadly flu bug during this most contagious season of the year:

. WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN :
The most common piece of advice to prevent the onset of swine flu is to wash your hands. Why? Most people have no idea how many times we bring our hands to our mouth but the fact is we do it many times per hour. If you pick up the virus by touching a door knob or other infected hard surface and then bring your hands toward your mouth, you have a pretty good chance of getting sick. Wash your hands with soap and water throughout the day and carry instant sanitizer with you on the go. Keeping your hands clean is absolutely essential to keeping healthy.

. COVER YOUR MOUTH WHEN OTHERS SNEEZE and COUGH:
When someone is sneezing and coughing it’s extremely important they cover their mouth. However, it also helps for you to cover your nose and mouth when others nearby are coughing and sneezing. When those that are sick sneeze, cough, and even breathe they fill the air around them with airborne and highly infections germs. Try to minimize what you inhale by covering your mouth with a handkerchief or your own clean hand.

. USE TheraBreath Nasal-Sinus Drops and TheraBreath Extinguisher Spray TO HELP CREATE A BARRIER AGAINST GERMS :
While my formulas were developed to help fight the germs that cause bad breath and tooth decay, they are extremely effective anti-microbial agents as well. A few drops of TheraBreath Nasal Sinus drops in each nostril every 12 hours will create an environment hostile to germs in your nasal cavity. Similarly, regular use of the Extinguisher Spray will also make it hard for sore throat and flu germs to take up residence in your throat. By using these formulas in your mouth and nose, the two primary means of entry for germs, you will reduce their ability to transmit infection to you and your likelihood of getting sick.  Also, when you have flu and/or you are taking medications, you are much more likely to have bad breath as well. 

This is a busy season for all of us. By using some basic common sense, following these basic tips, and practicing good hygiene we can make sure to stay healthy and keep those around us feeling in top shape as well.

If you’re feeling down in the dumps….rumor has it it that you may not only have a bad attitude, but you you might have bad breath as well!  Pessimists are more likely to have dental problems, like halitosis, cavities, or missing and decayed teeth.  They are more likely to have a negative attitude about going to the dentist as well. 

This research was done on the attitudes and dental records of 1,037 people in the 30s.  These people also filled out questionnaires, one about their feelings towards dentists, and the other one rating character traits.   Some of these pessimists admitted being afraid of dental visits, avoiding checkups, and only going to the dentist when having an issue.  These people tended to be more easily stressed and less sociable.  Because of this, these people tended to have more tooth decay than those not afraid of going to the dentist, and had twice as many rotten/missing teeth and fillings by the age of 32.  These people generally had more anxiety problems and were more able to deal with life’s issues in a positive fashion.