Bad Breath, post nasal drip, and tonsil stones are all common problems that people have.  What else do they have in common?  Grapefruit seed extract is an extremely versatile compound that can help cure/prevent these issues. 

 Overall, grapefruit seed extract is great for prevention purposes.  It helps prevent caries/tooth decay, gingivitis/gum disorders, plaque, sore throats and flu viruses.  It also helps with allergies, bladder infections, bacterial cystitis, incontinence, chronic urethritis, candida/fungal/yeast infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypotension, chronic inflammation, coughs, laryngitis, diarrhea, earaches, flatulence, gastritis, gastric/duodenal ulcers (H. pylori), parasites, phlegm/mucus, the respiratory system, sinusitis/nasal issues, tonsillitis, thrush, toxic shock syndrome, virulent staph infection, and ulcerative stomatitis. 

Tonsil stones is a condition that many people have– it is not as uncommon as you might think.  For more information on tonsil stones, its causes and cures, click here.  Alcohol and dairy products can also contribute to the formation of tonsil stones.  All of the aforementioned dental health issues can cause bad breath. The reason as to why grapefruit seed extract works to help these issues is because it kills the bacteria causing plaque, bad breath, and so on.  This extract is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral.

Grapefruit seed extract is handy because it is a natural cure with a low toxicity, but it is not recommended to take it longer than a short period of time.  Also, this extract may defeat the bacteria/yeast causing a bad breath smell, but the root of the bad breath problem may still exist.  People should also monitor their intake of red meat, processed foods, and other foods that encourage bad breath.  It will also be harder to see improvement if you are eating sugar and carbohydrates, since these can fuel the bad breath-causing bacteria. 

Grapefruit seed extract has been diluted in mouthwash solutions, in order to promote healthy gums and fresh breath. For information on how to use this extract to prevent or cure bad breath, tonsil stones, post nasal drip, etc., consult a professional who works with natural cures to see what best suits you.

What are some other uses that you probably didn’t know?  Grapefruit seed extract can be useful to prevent infection and relieve pain during tooth extraction, and it can be used to help clean your toothbrush.

So, it’s common knowledge that bad breath isn’t something that people are too fond of.  It can hurt friendships, work relationships, romances, and so on.  Allegedly, Barack Obama wakes up ’stinky and snory’, according to his wife Michelle!

Now, in the United Kingdom, a machine that is 50 times more sensitive than the human nose exists that can supposedly get rid of halitosis – for good!  This gas chromatography machine measures and identifies the three primary types of bad breath-causing bacteria.  It doesn’t just say if someone has halitosis, but it specifically identifies the kinds of molecules that are causing the problem.  This helps dental professionals target the halitosis more precisely.  This machine was developed in Australia, and it costs around £8,000 (which is over $12,000 in America).   The machine works by having patients give a breath sample into a plastic syringe, and it usually gives results within 15 minutes. 

After diagnosing the bad breath, the dentists recommend nasal flushes, medicated mouthwash, etc., in order to banish the anaerobic bacteria causing the bad breath.  Depending on where the anaerobic bacteria is located (i.e. mouth, throat, or nose), it gives off different smells.  The tongue is usually the culprit if the bad breath is coming from the mouth, since the smell could be comng from proteins being broken down into amino acids.  In the throat, bad breath often comes from the tonsils, from certain growths that are usually formed by food debris.  Tonsil stones are not uncommon.  Through the nose, sinus infections and excess mucus (post nasal drip) often cause bad smells.

Post nasal drip is a common cause of bad breath, even though it is not often talked about.  People are more likely to blame halitosis on a build up of bad oral bacteria.  Post nasal drip is also harder to get rid of than a bacterial buildup on the tongue. 

Post nasal drip is a flow of mucus from the nasal area regularly leaking down into the throat area.  This mucus feeds nutrients to the bad oral bacteria in the throat and the mouth, so the chances of having bad breath are much higher.  This problem can be chronic and hard to treat in comparison to other ailments that cause bad breath.

Most bad breath-causing anaerobic bacteria lives on the dorsal (back) area of the tongue, so when mucus drips down from nasal passages, it is in easy access to the bacteria.  Also, if you have never had your tonsils removed, debris can collect there, allowing bacteria to thrive even more. 

You may need to see a doctor for this problem if it does not go away.  To start off, you may brush after all meals and before going to bed.  Use a tongue scraper and try to gargle twice a day.  Having your tonsils removed may be an option, but it is not safe for everyone.

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Click on any topic below to get a detailed explanation on its relationship to bad breath and/or other oral problems.

1. A White Coating on Your Tongue? Click Here 
    
2. Your Doctor Misdiagnoses your Problem or Worse Yet, Ignores You! Click Here 
    
3. Post Nasal Drip, Allergies or Mucous? Click Here 
    
4. Whitish Round “Globs” in Your Tonsils? Click Here 
    
5. Dry Mouth, Morning Breath, Burning Tongue? Click Here 
    
6. Thick Saliva, Constantly Clearing your Throat? Click Here 
    
7. People Offer YOU gum and mints? Click Here 
    
8. People Turn Their Heads/ Back Away? Click Here 
    
9. Bad Taste After Beer, Milk, Coffee, Mouthwash? Click Here 
    
10. Loss of Confidence and Self-Esteem? Click Here 
     
11. Constant Sour, Bitter, or Metallic Taste? Click Here
     
12.  Discover How To Correctly Clean Your Tongue to Make White Tongue Disappear! Click Here 
     
13. No Relief from Brushing & Flossing? Click Here

The Truth About Bad Breath & What the Symptoms Mean

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 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, antibiotics, or 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 VSCs and by converting the VSCs 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 TheraBreath formulas.

Tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths, are caused by an accumulation of sulfur-producing bacteria and debris that become lodged in the tonsils. The debris, which can include mucous from post nasal drip, putrefies in the back of your throat and collects in the tonsil crypts (small pockets which appear on the surface of the tonsils).

Along with tonsil stones, when the debris combine with the volatile sulfur compounds produced by the anaerobic bacteria beneath the surface of your tongue, it can also create chronic halitosis-2/" title="Halitosis">Halitosis (and other bad breath and taste disorders).

Important: If you do not have your tonsils then you will not under most circumstances experience tonsil stones. However, this does not mean that you should run out and get your tonsils removed.

As we get older, tonsillectomies become increasingly dangerous; however, even if you have your tonsils removed, you will most likely still have bad breath! Why?

The sulfur-producing bacteria breeding beneath the surface of your tongue, which are integral to the creation of those tonsil stones, are the most likely candidates to cause bad breath!

So, even if you have your tonsils removed, unless you remove or hinder these anaerobic bacteria, you may still scare away people with your bad breath!

And, since you can’t have your tongue removed (at least not in the U.S.), there is a better idea. Fortunately, getting rid of tonsil stones is not that difficult…

How to Get Rid of Tonsil Stones

A simple combination of oxygenating tablets and nasal sinus drops will effectively eliminate tonsil stones without unnecessary tonsil surgery. Also, the occasional use of an oxygenating spray will help to immediately neutralize the anaerobic sulfur-producing bacteria on contact.

The Bad Breath Bible states that if you truly want to prevent bad breath then you must use oxygenating toothpastes and mouthwashes, and ideally a tongue scraper to effectively neutralize the anaerobic bacteria from the very back of the tongue.

When you use such an oxygenating toothpaste and mouthwash, you will experience a residual effect from the oxygenating tablets and nasal sinus drops solution, and it will stop the tonsil stones from ever forming again.

The anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath feast on the amino acids cysteine and methionine (the building blocks of the proteins that are found in mucus, phlegm, and dairy foods). In fact, many people notice that when they drink too much milk or eat too much cheese they end up with more mucus/phlegm in their throat. This is a natural reaction for many people and unfortunately, ends up causing more bad breath and awful tastes.

If you still have your tonsils, you may be harboring a higher number of the bacteria which can lead to a very misunderstood phenomenon called tonsilloliths. They are tonsil stones produced by the conglomeration of mucus draining down the back of the throat and the volatile sulfur compounds created by the bacteria which easily end up in the nooks and crannies of the tonsils every time one swallows. Countless times my patients told me that their dentists misdiagnosed these and told them that these were merely food particles. This couldn’t be further from the truth! For more information, see our article about Tonsil Stones.

If you suffer from excess mucus, sinus congestion and post nasal drip there are essentially only a few different routes that you can take:

1.  Use medication and or drugs to dry up the sinuses and prevent mucus buildup – all the while being careful to avoid a dry mouth, a likely side-effect of virtually all antihistamines. Dry mouth is the most common initiator of bad breath because it mimics an anaerobic environment, perfect for the bacteria to pump out volatile sulfur compounds. You should be careful about using any antihistamine frequently – many are habit forming!

2.  Use nasal/sinus drops. By squeezing 3-4 drops into each nostril (and then lightly inhaling to move the potent formula through the sinuses) twice daily, most people can finally experience that fresh breath and taste feeling by eliminating the production of sulfur compounds created by the reaction of mucus and the anaerobic sulfur producing bacteria.

3.  For chronic sinus problems, many patients will find relief by using an effective nasal-sinus irrigator, designed by an Ear Nose & Throat specialist) to flush the sinuses.

4.  Minimize the amount of post-nasal drip in your throat and sinuses, and eliminate the #1 side effect of excess mucus, bad breath, by using oxygenating oral care products. Other medication and drugs may help prevent post-nasal drip, but at what cost?

There are dozens of different over-the counter nasal decongestants and antihistamines that you can use to help relieve congestion and dry up excess mucus.  Some of them do what their manufacturers claim they can do, but most of them perform the job too well!  They create an extremely dry mouth, which exacerbates bad breath.  Even in cases where the dry mouth side effect is minimal, when you stop taking that medication, the problem often comes back even worse! This is because in some cases your body will actually develop a resistance to any antihistamines or nasal decongestants, especially nasal sprays (but not all of them–TheraBreath isn’t)!

The solution to the problem is to use a Nasal-Irrigator.

Nasal Irrigation is probably the most effective method of eliminating post-nasal drip and helping to control sinus infections. The unique pulsatile irrigation helps to restore ciliary function and relieve post nasal drip. A short period of regular use can stimulate the cilia (the tiny hair-like fibers in the nasal sinus passages) to restore their natural protective “sweeping & cleansing” action.

When you feel a sinus condition come about, or feel that you have persistent post-nasal drip and excess mucus, consistent daily use for 10 days should result in a clearing of the condition.

For best results, we recommend a combination of this easy-to-use home instrument with an oxygenating solution.

Stop Bad Breath Associated with Post-Nasal Drip, Excess Mucus, and Sinus Problems

For people who don’t really have sinus problems, just “off and on” or seasonal post-nasal drip, then an alternative (and better) solution might be to minimize the amount of excess mucus in the back of the throat and more importantly to make sure to neutralize the odor caused by this excess mucus.

The proteins in mucus make an excellent food source for the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath. The bacteria feed off the amino acids, methionine and cysteine, and create extremely odorous and awful tasting volatile sulfur compounds as byproducts, which are the odors and awful tastes found in the medical condition ‘halitosis,’ which is more commonly known as bad breath.

Keep in mind that we always recommend using an oxygenating oral rinse and toothpaste as the primary ingredients of any breath treatment program.  Nasal-Sinus Drops eliminate odor from the sinuses, and these drops are highly effective at cleansing the sinuses (a very hard-to-reach area) of the volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath.

Post Nasal Drip and Nasal-Sinus Congestion Will Transform a Case of “Normal” Breath into BAD Breath and “Bad” Breath into HORRIBLE Breath!

• How to Eliminate That Annoying ‘Frog-in-the-Throat’ Feeling!
• Why Your Over-the-Counter Anti Histamine Could Be Making The Problem Even Worse!
• If You Have Post Nasal Drip – It’s Guaranteed To Affect Your Breath!

New Article
Dr. Harold Katz, Founder
California Breath Clinics

Bad Breath is very closely related to post nasal drip, excess mucus, sinus problems, your tonsils, and tonsiloliths.

If you recall from my book ‘The Bad Breath Bible‘, remember that the bacteria which cause bad breath and sour/bitter/metallic tastes are anaerobic (live without oxygen). Their goal in life is to break down the proteins in foods that we eat. However, under certain conditions, they will also start to break down the proteins found in mucus and phlegm.

Therefore, those people who suffer from post nasal drip, sinus problems, and other such ailments are more prone to bad breath and lousy tastes because the bacteria use the mucus as a food source and start to extract sulfur compounds from the amino acids that make up the proteins found in all this excess mucus.

Scientifically, the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath “love” the amino acids Cysteine and Methionine, which are the building blocks of the proteins that are found in mucus (and phlegm) and in dairy foods, too. In fact, many people notice that when they drink too much milk or eat too much cheese they end up with more mucous or phlegm in their throat (see my article on Foods that may cause bad breath). This is a natural reaction for many people and unfortunately, ends up causing more bad breath and lousy taste.

If you still have your tonsils, you may be harboring a higher number of the bacteria which can lead to an “interesting” and very often misunderstood phenomenon, called TONSILOLITHS. Literally translated, they are “tonsil stones” produced by the conglomeration of mucus draining down the back of the throat and the volatile sulfur compounds created by the bacteria which easily end up in the “nooks and crannies” of the tonsils, every time one swallows. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard from my patients who asked their dentist what these objects were, and more often than not the answer was ‘food particles’. This couldn’t be further from the truth! For more information, see my article about Tonsil Stones.

If you suffer from excess mucus, sinus congestion and post nasal drip there are essentially only a few different routes that you can take:

1. Use medication and or drugs to dry up the sinuses and prevent mucus buildup – all the while being careful to avoid a dry mouth, a likely side-effect of virtually all antihistamines. Dry mouth is the most common initiator of bad breath because it mimics an anaerobic environment, perfect for the “bugs” to pump out Volatile Sulfur Compounds. You should be careful about using any antihistamine too frequently – many are habit forming!
2. Use TheraBreath Nasal Sinus Formula. By squeezing 3-4 drops into each nostril (and then lightly inhaling to move the potent formula through the sinus) twice daily, most people can finally experience that fresh breath and taste feeling by eliminating the production of sulfur compounds created by the reaction of mucus and the anaerobic sulfur producing bacteria…
3. For chronic sinus problems, many patients will find relief by using the Hydropulse® (an amazingly effective Nasal-Sinus Irrigator, designed by an Ear Nose & Throat specialist) to flush the sinuses. (Works even better when you add just 2-3 drops of AktivOxigen serum into the trough before each use).
4. Minimize the amount of post-nasal drip in your throat and sinuses, and eliminate the #1 side effect of excess mucus (Bad Breath!) by using oxygenating oral care products, such as TheraBreath, TheraBreath PLUS, AktivOxigen, PerioTherapy, and TheraBrite.

Medication and Drugs MAY help Prevent Post-Nasal Drip, But At What Cost?

There are dozens of different over-the counter nasal decongestants and antihistamines you can use to help relieve congestion and dry up excess mucus, and some of them are very good at what they claim… but mostly they are TOO GOOD! They create an extremely dry mouth, which exacerbates bad breath. And even in cases where the dry mouth side effect is minimal, when you stop taking that medication the problem comes back, and almost always with a vengeance! This is because in some cases, your body will actually develop a resistance to any antihistamines or nasal decongestants, especially nasal sprays (be careful, because many sprays are habit forming – but NOT TheraBreath formulas!)

Suffice it to say, this should NOT be an option that you pursue.

Use a Nasal-Irrigator such as the Hydropulse® to Flush Your Sinuses free from Excess Mucus

Hydropulse
Nasal-Sinus Irrigator
$97.00
Click to Add to Cart

Nasal Irrigation is probably the most effective method of eliminating post-nasal drip and helping to control sinus infections. The Hydro Pulse Sinus Irrigator is an FDA registered device supported by over 37 published medical reports. The unique pulsatile irrigation of the Hydro Pulse helps to restore ciliary function and relieve post nasal drip. A short period of regular use can stimulate the cilia (the tiny hair-like fibers in the nasal sinus passages) to restore their natural protective “sweeping & cleansing” action.

When you feel a sinus condition come on, or feel that you have persistent post-nasal drip and excess mucus, consistent daily use for 10 days should result in a clearing of the condition.

For best results, we recommend a combination of this easy-to-use home instrument with an oxygenating solution such as AktivOxigen serum.

Stop Bad Breath Associated with Post-Nasal Drip, Excess Mucus, and Sinus Problems

For people who don’t really have sinus problems, just “off and on” or seasonal post-nasal drip, then an alternative (and better) solution might be to minimize the amount of excess mucus in the back of the throat and more importantly to make sure you neutralize the odor caused by this excess mucus.

You see, the proteins in mucus make an excellent food source for the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath. The bacteria feed off the amino acids, Methionine and Cysteine, and create extremely odorous and lousy-tasting Volatile Sulfur Compounds as by-products, which are the odors and lousy tastes found in the medical condition halitosis, which YOU (or maybe everyone around you) more commonly knows as bad breath.

There are three key formulas that most of my patients find extremely effective at neutralizing the odor caused by post-nasal drip:

• Nasal Sinus Drops
• AktivOxigen Tablets
• Extinguisher Spray

Keep in mind that we always recommend using an oxygenating oral rinse and toothpaste such as TheraBreath as the primary ingredients of any breath treatment program

Nasal-Sinus Drops Eliminate Odor From The Sinuses

These drops are highly effective at cleansing the sinuses (a very hard-to-reach area) of the volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath.

Nasal-Sinus Drops
One Bottle – $12.00
Click to Add to Cart

Nasal-Sinus Drops Instructions for Use:

1. Blow nose before use
2. Tilt back head and gently press sides of dropper bottle to release 3-4 drops into each nostril
3. Allow nasal-sinus drops to slowly run back through your sinuses and down the back of your throat
4. *Important* – Allow drops to remain in the sinus cavity for at least 1-2 minutes. So, do not blow nose for at least that length of time.

AktivOxigen Tablets Create an Unflavored Oral Rinse to Cleanse the Back of the Throat

These tablets make an unflavored oral rinse that you can actually swallow – this gets much deeper down in the throat than just regular rinsing, and it will actually help break down post-nasal drip congestion and excess mucus in the throat.

AktivOxigen Tablets
12 Tablets – $42.00
Click to Add to Cart

AktivOxigen Tablets Instructions for Use:

1. Dissolve 1 or 2 tablets (creates a double-strength formula) in the 8 Ounce Mixing Bottle. Be sure to use the opaque bottle that comes with the system otherwise the solution will lose its potency.
2. Shake well for 10-20 seconds
3. Before bedtime, tilt your head back and swallow 1 or 2 capfuls of the solution. Let it slowly run over your throat and tonsil area for maximum effectiveness.
4. *Important* – Do not drink or eat anything for 5 minutes after using the AktivOxigen solution. Many of our patients say that they get the best results when they use it right before they leave the house in the morning and again, as the last thing they do before they go to sleep.
5. Keep cap tightly closed after use

TheraBreath Extinguisher Spray With It’s Patented 6.9cm Spray Nozzle Reaches The Back of the Tongue Where Few Other Sprays Can Reach

The Extinguisher Spray has been extremely popular – its patented 6.9 cm Extinguisher Nozzle applicator is very effective at applying the formulas to the back of the throat and tonsils, which is a very common problem area for people with post nasal drip and excess mucus.

Extinguisher Spray
One Bottle – $8.00
Click to Add to Cart

Extinguisher Spray Instructions for Use:

1. Shake well before use
2. Place the nozzle on the back of your tongue (so that it holds down your tongue) pointing to the very back of your throat and tonsil area
3. Dispense 2-3 sprays or until you feel that the entire area is covered.
4. Use as often as necessary to maintain a ‘fresh’ oral environment

When I first started treating my own daughter’s breath problem 10 years ago, I never dreamed that I would end up helping so many people all over the world who had the same problem, which my fellow dentists ignored or misdiagnosed for far too long. It was only a few years into our clinical therapy that I realized that “Every case of bad breath is different and that there is no such thing as one formula to treat every case of halitosis.”

We’ve been here for the last 10 years to help our patients prevent bad breath, sinus congestion, and lousy tastes, and we’ll be here for many more years to come. If there is anythingwe can do to help, please don’t hesitate to contact us – that’s why we’re here!

Warmest Regards,

-Harold Katz, DDS