The Bad Breath Blog

There are a million mouthwashes out there, and it’s not always easy to differentiate the good from the bad (and the ugly). Fortunately, the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia (EHANS) has released a list of products that are healthy and eco-friendly. And wouldn’t you know it, TheraBreath’s oral rinses happened to make the list of the best mouthwashes!

EHANS’s list – somewhat formidably titled the “Guide to Less Toxic Products” – is exactly that: a list of consumer goods that do NOT contain toxins and harmful chemicals. If this makes you stop and wonder about the accuracy of their using the word “toxic,” don’t worry.

They are using it quite correctly.

Believe it or not, many of the substances found in typical, alcohol-based mouthwashes are technically toxic. That is, if these chemicals are swallowed – or more often, swallowed in large enough amounts – they can be quite dangerous. As you might imagine, this means that the best mouthwashes are by definition the all-natural, organic variety!

TheraBreath’s alcohol-free mouthwashes are a case in point. EHANS listed our oral rinses as one of just SEVEN of the best mouthwashes for your health, for the environment and for eliminating bad breath.

Our oral rinses use all-natural ingredients like xylitol, aloe leaf juice, sodium bicarbonate and menthol to quickly and safely eliminate oral odor and kill bacteria.

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If you’ve never given halitosis much thought, it’s time for you to start. While having bad breath may not seem like a big deal, it can do more than isolate you from your friends and repel
potential dates. Oral odor may also indicate poor dental hygiene. Regardless of what is causing your bad breath, TheraBreath is here to treat it.

When it comes to getting rid of bad breath, Americans spare no expense. After all, the best estimates about the prevalence of oral odor indicate that, at any one time, between one-quarter and one-half of all adults have halitosis.

Yikes! Makes you want to avoid crowded elevators.

How much do adults spend in the pursuit of fresh breath? A study published in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association stated that in 1969, Americans spent $250 million on getting rid of bad breath – by 2011, that figure has risen significantly. Estimates vary, but most experts suggest that between $500 million and $5 billion is spent annually on eliminating halitosis.

That’s quite a chunk of change. However, you don’t have to spend a lot in order to have fresh breath. With TheraBreath, you can get a whiter smile and halitosis-free breath in days, thanks to our all-natural, mouth-moistening, oxygenating specialty products.

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Alcohol in Mouthwashes Can Cause Bad Breath

In order to stop bad breath, you must stop the production of the volatile sulfur compounds. The only safe and clinically-proven way to do so is to oxidize away the sulfur compounds and the bacteria that create this problem.

For several decades the large pharmaceutical companies have made commercial products that do not oxidize away the odorous and lousy-tasting sulfur compounds created by anaerobic bacteria. After many attempts to “help” the public, the companies only would rely on masking agents which only cover up the malodor and sour, bitter tastes produced by the sulfur compounds with other stronger tastes (i.e. medicinal, minty) and fragrances.

Alcohol:

The end result was a masking chemical and high levels of alcohol. Alcohol makes your breath worse. Alcohol, in chemical terms, is classified as a DESICCANT, or DRYING AGENT. As you know from information in this website and possibly your own personal problems, the dryer your mouth gets, the worse your breath gets.

Here’s how much alcohol (in Percentage and Proof) is contained in the leading products below:

You may also ask yourself, “If those common products kill the germs that cause bad breath like they say they do, then why do I still have bad breath?”

 Ingredients in Oral Products

Here are some other strange ingredients added to mouthwash and other oral products! 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Stop Your Washing Your Mouth With Soap!

Unfortunately, the public is unaware of the ingredients in products they use on a daily basis. For instance, nearly every toothpaste contains an ingredient that has been proven to dry out your mouth and is now scientifically linked to canker sores. It’s called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and is placed into toothpaste (and some mouthwashes) in order to create foaming! (SLS is also the main ingredient in your shampoo – go check it out.) The harshness of this chemical has been proven to create microscopic damage to the oral tissue which lines the inside of your mouth, which then leads to canker sore production. The microscopic damage and shedding of vital oral tissues provides a protein food source to the bacteria that create the volatile sulfur compounds of halitosis and taste disorders. That’s why TheraBreath Oral Products have never contained SLS!

SLS acts just like a detergent. It is used in the laboratory as a membrane destabilizer and solubilizer of proteins and lipids. SLS is used in toothpaste to emulsify (mix) oil and water based ingredients together. In your toothpaste it creates the foam you get when brushing. Since it is classified as a soap, you will easily understand why this ingredient can cause drying inside the mouth for many individuals. The dryness is one of several factors that will lead to bad breath.

Saccharin:

Would you give saccharin to your children? Well, you are – when you provide them with children’s toothpaste from some of the major companies, take a look at their ingredients.

The only toothpaste, formulated to fight bad breath by oxidation AND which does not contain SLS & saccharin is TheraBreath!

Sodium Chlorate:

This is a chemical that is not an oxygenating compound. It sounds like a chemical used in oxygenating products, but in order for it to even start to produce oxygenation, the pH of the solution would need to have a pH of -1 (that’s right -1!). Historically, scientific papers refer to many cases of accidental sodium chlorate poisoning. Consequently, oral products containing chlorates were taken off the market in the UK over 60 years ago (Bibliography of scientific papers on sodium chlorate)!

Benzalkonium Chloride:

Benzalkonium chloride had been used for many years as a preservative in eye drops and also in nasal sprays and drops. Recently, researchers in Europe discovered that this preservative was causing a great deal of allergic reaction among users. It is now estimated that fully 10% of the population is allergic to benzalkonium chloride.

Other studies have shown a direct relationship between BKC and contact dermatitis, another allergic reaction.

Based on these facts, pharmaceutical companies have started to produce eye and nasal drops without BKC in order to provide better products to the public.

Brushing, flossing, and gargling may all be part of your daily oral hygiene routine, but taking these steps may not be enough if you have other issues.

Medications like antidepressants, diuretics, and aspirin can dry the mouth. With dry mouth, there is a lack of saliva, and saliva is what rinses away bacteria that make breath odor foul.

Bacteria – Some people may be prone to bad breath more than others. Bacteria exist on the tongue, and expel gases as they munch on food particles and other substances broken down from saliva. Also, they multiply at night, since the salivary glands slow down when you are sleeping. H. pylori, a type of bacteria that can cause stomach ulcers, can cause bad breath and gum disease if it finds a place to reside in your mouth.

Respiratory tract infections- While gum and tooth infections can cause bad breath, so can bronchitis, sinusitis, and even colds. RTIs break down tissue, which starts a flow of mucus and cells that feed bacteria that can emit foul odors.

Skipping breakfast– Not only does breakfast benefit your body and mind, but it helps to stimulate saliva production and scrub bacteria from the tongue (depending in what you eat, of course).

Diet- Low-carb diets can burn stored fat, thus creating toxic-smelling ketones. Foods that generate large amounts of amino acids, like dairy products and foods high in protein, can fuel the bacteria that produce bad breath. Obesity has also been linked with bad breath.

Breathing out of your mouth- When the tissues in your mouth are dry, saliva is prevented from washing away bacteria; thus, bad breath is encouraged. Major candidates for this are people who suffer from sleep apnea, asthma, and snoring.

Chronic illnesses- Breath that is chronically potent in a certain smell can signify a disease. For example, kidney failure can make your breath smell fishy, and uncontrolled diabetes can make your breath smell fruity.

Alcohol- Plain and simple, alcohol is dehydrating, and having a dry mouth encourages bad breath.

April 14:  A Florida man, Charles Grimes, and his mom were arguing about money and other issues on Sunday when the mother covers her nose with her hand. The son had been drinking beer most of the day, according to reports. He was offended by this comment so he bit her knuckle on her right forefinger. Grimes, age 41, was charged with domestic battery and is currently in jail without bail.

Source: Tampa Bay News