We can thank the ancient Greeks for first introducing the idea for chewing gum. They chewed mastic gum (pronounced mas-tee-ka), which is the resin obtained from the bark of the mastic tree, a shrublike tree found mainly in Greece and Turkey. The Grecian women, more so than the men, favored chewing mastic gum to clean their teeth and sweeten their breath.
Not too long after the Greeks started chewing mastic gum, the ancient Mayans were chewing on the sap from a different tree (the Sapodilla tree), which actually produced a sap called 'chicle' which is exactly where much of the gum in the US comes from. What's most interesting is that although the Mayan civilization literally disappeared overnight in about the year 800, the only Mayan practice that still exists is that of chewing gum.
Closer to home, meanwhile, the American Indians of New England were also chewing gum, but made from the resin of spruce trees. Although chicle-based gums would ultimately win out in the US, the first gums ever marketed in the US were those based from the resin of spruce trees. Then, during the mid 1800s, paraffin wax gum combined with sweetners gradually replaced spruce gum. The one drawback of paraffin wax gum, however, was that it required heat and moisture from the mouth in order to make it suitable for chewing.
Modern day gum products first appeared in 1869. The famous Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, while searching for a substitute for rubber, thought that chicle might work (remember the sap from the sapodilla tree that the Mayans chewed on?). He contacted the American Inventor Thomas Adams, and while Adams couldn't get chicle to work as rubber, he had the brilliant idea to turn it into a gum base. And thus modern day chewing gum was born from information that the Mayans had known for thousand of years - chicle makes great gum!
In more recent years, manufactures figured out how to add a variety of ingredients which are responsible for an assortment of proven health benefits (besides fresh breath). In future blog entries we'll discuss what ingredients you should look for in a chewing gum that makes it most suitable as a breath freshener . As always, your comments and questions are welcome.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Mouthwashes: From Urine to Listerine
Mouthwashes to freshen breath have been around for centuries and were used by many ancient societies such as the Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks, and Romans.
The Chinese, for instance, are believed to have produced the first mouthwashes -- sometime around 2700 BC -- to treat gum disease, a cause of bad breath. The Egyptians rinsed their mouths with water and honey as well as cumin, ocher, frankincense, and goose fat. The Greeks, meanwhile, formulated a concoction consisting of boiled olive tree leaves, milk, pickled olive juice, gum myrrh with wine and oil, pomegranate peelings, nutgalls, and vinegar.
Ancient societies used other ingredients for their mouthwashes, including pleasant things like fruit, honey, or dried flowers to not-so-pleasant things such as ground lizard, minced mice, or even urine. You read that right -- urine! The Romans actually gargled with urine to combat bad breath. And you thought Listerine tasted bad! But since the Romans thought their own urine lacked sufficient oomph, they shipped in from Portugal what they believed was a stronger, more potent urine.
Interestingly enough, the Romans weren't the only ones using urine to freshen breath. Urine (which contains ammonia) was an active ingredient in toothpastes and mouthwashes until the 18th century. As you may well guess, all of these various ingredients were largely ineffective and in many cases were harmful to the enamel coating on teeth.
Now fast forward to our present-day age. In the movie, "Gone With The Wind," Scarlett O'Hara tries to disguise the smell of alcohol on her breath by gargling with cologne. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction because there are many stories of movie and theater stars in the early 20th century also trying to freshen their breath with perfume.
Years before Listerine became the number one washwash in America, it was used to clean floors, cure gonorrhea, and to disinfect instruments during surgeries.
If you're out shopping for a contemporary mouthwash, be sure to read the labels of the various brands. You want to avoid any that contain sugar or alcohol -- both of which actually contribute to bad breath. Sugar not only leads to tooth decay, but can feed the oral bacteria in your mouth that produces bad breath. Alcohol, meanwhile, can dry out the mouth, creating an ideal environment for odor-causing bacteria.
We'll have more on mouthwashes and their role in combating bad breath in future posts to this blog. As always, your comments and questions are invited.
The Chinese, for instance, are believed to have produced the first mouthwashes -- sometime around 2700 BC -- to treat gum disease, a cause of bad breath. The Egyptians rinsed their mouths with water and honey as well as cumin, ocher, frankincense, and goose fat. The Greeks, meanwhile, formulated a concoction consisting of boiled olive tree leaves, milk, pickled olive juice, gum myrrh with wine and oil, pomegranate peelings, nutgalls, and vinegar.
Ancient societies used other ingredients for their mouthwashes, including pleasant things like fruit, honey, or dried flowers to not-so-pleasant things such as ground lizard, minced mice, or even urine. You read that right -- urine! The Romans actually gargled with urine to combat bad breath. And you thought Listerine tasted bad! But since the Romans thought their own urine lacked sufficient oomph, they shipped in from Portugal what they believed was a stronger, more potent urine.
Interestingly enough, the Romans weren't the only ones using urine to freshen breath. Urine (which contains ammonia) was an active ingredient in toothpastes and mouthwashes until the 18th century. As you may well guess, all of these various ingredients were largely ineffective and in many cases were harmful to the enamel coating on teeth.
Now fast forward to our present-day age. In the movie, "Gone With The Wind," Scarlett O'Hara tries to disguise the smell of alcohol on her breath by gargling with cologne. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction because there are many stories of movie and theater stars in the early 20th century also trying to freshen their breath with perfume.
Years before Listerine became the number one washwash in America, it was used to clean floors, cure gonorrhea, and to disinfect instruments during surgeries.
If you're out shopping for a contemporary mouthwash, be sure to read the labels of the various brands. You want to avoid any that contain sugar or alcohol -- both of which actually contribute to bad breath. Sugar not only leads to tooth decay, but can feed the oral bacteria in your mouth that produces bad breath. Alcohol, meanwhile, can dry out the mouth, creating an ideal environment for odor-causing bacteria.
We'll have more on mouthwashes and their role in combating bad breath in future posts to this blog. As always, your comments and questions are invited.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Bad Breath In History
Foul and obnoxious breath is not a modern complaint. Mankind has been saddled with it for centuries.
For instance, you’ll find the problem cited at length in the ancient Jewish Talmud. Greek and Roman writers also addressed bad breath. For example, Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D) wrote that bad teeth, old age, and some foods could cause bad breath -- all of which are known causes for halitosis even today.
Long ago kings once decreed that bad breath was a valid reason for a woman to leave her husband. Now, of course, anything goes.
Centuries ago in England, the most famous playwright of all time, William Shakespeare, was acutely aware of bad breath when he penned, “Foul breath is noisome” in “Much Ado About Nothing.”
And, in “Midsummer-Night’s Dream,” one of his characters urges the others in the play to “eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath….”
You can find a lot more examples of halitosis in history, including the best cure for halitosis, by checking out the link in this sentence. Meanwhile, you're invited to post any comments or questions that come to mind.
For instance, you’ll find the problem cited at length in the ancient Jewish Talmud. Greek and Roman writers also addressed bad breath. For example, Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D) wrote that bad teeth, old age, and some foods could cause bad breath -- all of which are known causes for halitosis even today.
Long ago kings once decreed that bad breath was a valid reason for a woman to leave her husband. Now, of course, anything goes.
Centuries ago in England, the most famous playwright of all time, William Shakespeare, was acutely aware of bad breath when he penned, “Foul breath is noisome” in “Much Ado About Nothing.”
And, in “Midsummer-Night’s Dream,” one of his characters urges the others in the play to “eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath….”
You can find a lot more examples of halitosis in history, including the best cure for halitosis, by checking out the link in this sentence. Meanwhile, you're invited to post any comments or questions that come to mind.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Brush Your Teeth With Soap
Remember when mom used to threaten to wash your mouth out with soap if you used naughty words? Perhaps some of you might even remember what soap tastes like.
As bad as using soap to wash out your mouth sounds, people once used soap to clean their teeth for a fresher breath. During the first half of the 20th century, toothpaste once vied with tooth powders for market supremacy. Manufacturers sold the powders in tin containers or in a cakelike form that they called "soap."
Toothpaste, as we all know, won out, because it was more convenient to use.
Surprisingly, though, using soap to clean teeth is making a resurgence of sorts. According to Dr. Gerald F. Judd, who wrote the book, "Good Teeth Birth to Death: the Perfect Prescription for the Teeth," soap is better for the teeth than toothpaste. In 2003, Karen Adler decided to try to reintroduce tooth soap to Americans. She didn't like the idea of using Ivory Soap on her teeth, so she mixed up her own soap concoction. It includes vegetable oils and essential oils to make the soap more palatable. Her Adler's Tooth Soap comes in food-processed shreds so that customers could easily use a pinch to rub on their teeth.
Adler also offers a liquid formula. Just squeeze a few drops onto your teeth, brush thoroughly, and then spit. Of course, your mouth will taste, well, like soap, but with a hint of citrus, peppermint or eight other flavors including even chocolate.
Apparently, she has a growing clientele because her company grossed more than $400,000 in 2007 from online sales and sales at health food stores.
Meanwhile, other soap manufacturers, such as Wild Soap Bar, have followed Adler's growing success with their own tooth cleansers made from soap, such as Tooth Savior.
While brushing your teeth is one way to attain a fresher, cleaner breath, now you can add soap cleanser to the mix. I wonder what good ol' mom would say.
As bad as using soap to wash out your mouth sounds, people once used soap to clean their teeth for a fresher breath. During the first half of the 20th century, toothpaste once vied with tooth powders for market supremacy. Manufacturers sold the powders in tin containers or in a cakelike form that they called "soap."
Toothpaste, as we all know, won out, because it was more convenient to use.
Surprisingly, though, using soap to clean teeth is making a resurgence of sorts. According to Dr. Gerald F. Judd, who wrote the book, "Good Teeth Birth to Death: the Perfect Prescription for the Teeth," soap is better for the teeth than toothpaste. In 2003, Karen Adler decided to try to reintroduce tooth soap to Americans. She didn't like the idea of using Ivory Soap on her teeth, so she mixed up her own soap concoction. It includes vegetable oils and essential oils to make the soap more palatable. Her Adler's Tooth Soap comes in food-processed shreds so that customers could easily use a pinch to rub on their teeth.
Adler also offers a liquid formula. Just squeeze a few drops onto your teeth, brush thoroughly, and then spit. Of course, your mouth will taste, well, like soap, but with a hint of citrus, peppermint or eight other flavors including even chocolate.
Apparently, she has a growing clientele because her company grossed more than $400,000 in 2007 from online sales and sales at health food stores.
Meanwhile, other soap manufacturers, such as Wild Soap Bar, have followed Adler's growing success with their own tooth cleansers made from soap, such as Tooth Savior.
While brushing your teeth is one way to attain a fresher, cleaner breath, now you can add soap cleanser to the mix. I wonder what good ol' mom would say.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Common Symptoms of Bad Breath
Persons who have bad breath or offensive mouth odor typically experience certain telltale signs or symptoms. Perhaps you’re aware of one or more of these symptoms:
* People avoid being close to you or they frequently offer you gum or breath-mints.
* You experience a sour, bitter, or metallic taste in your mouth caused by higher acid levels in your mouth.
* Your saliva is thick or you’re aware of constantly clearing your throat.
* You have constant dry mouth.
* You experience a strong mouth odor upon awakening – it’s called “morning breath.”
* You have a burning sensation on the tongue…or cough up smelly white, round globules from the back of your throat or tonsils (called tonsiloliths).
* You suffer from frequent post-nasal drip, allergies, or phlegm in your throat…and you may have the feeling you can “smell” bad breath through your sinuses.
* You notice a thick white or yellow coating on your tongue’s surface.
Special note: Bad breath does NOT come from your digestive system. Of course, if you burp or belch, a nasty odor comes out of our mouth. But that is not bad breath per se.
Bad breath symptoms are just one of many aspects of halitosis presented on this site and our web site.
* People avoid being close to you or they frequently offer you gum or breath-mints.
* You experience a sour, bitter, or metallic taste in your mouth caused by higher acid levels in your mouth.
* Your saliva is thick or you’re aware of constantly clearing your throat.
* You have constant dry mouth.
* You experience a strong mouth odor upon awakening – it’s called “morning breath.”
* You have a burning sensation on the tongue…or cough up smelly white, round globules from the back of your throat or tonsils (called tonsiloliths).
* You suffer from frequent post-nasal drip, allergies, or phlegm in your throat…and you may have the feeling you can “smell” bad breath through your sinuses.
* You notice a thick white or yellow coating on your tongue’s surface.
Special note: Bad breath does NOT come from your digestive system. Of course, if you burp or belch, a nasty odor comes out of our mouth. But that is not bad breath per se.
Bad breath symptoms are just one of many aspects of halitosis presented on this site and our web site.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Smoking: Another Cause of Bad Breath
Smokers have bad “smokers” breath. Their whole body, lungs and insides give out this yucky smell of stale smoke and its leftovers. Chewing gum does not mask it and brushing rarely helps.
The odor emanating from a smoker’s mouth depends on the amount of tar, nicotine, and other unpleasant smelling substances contained in tobacco smoke. It adheres to the person’s teeth, tongue, cheeks and gums.
Another detrimental effect of smoking is that it dries out oral tissues. In fact, smoking is said to be the fastest way to dry out your mouth. By reducing mouth moisture, it diminishes the washing and buffering effect of saliva on oral bacteria and their waste products.
Still another disadvantage of smoking is that smokers are more likely to develop gum (or periodontal) disease than those who don’t smoke. Reportedly, most, if not all, smokers have some form of periodontal disease.
There are many causes of bad breath , and smoking is definitely one of them. The only way to eliminate a smoker's bad breath is to stop smoking.
If you have any comments or questions about this article, or about bad breath or dental health, please post them. We check this site daily.
The odor emanating from a smoker’s mouth depends on the amount of tar, nicotine, and other unpleasant smelling substances contained in tobacco smoke. It adheres to the person’s teeth, tongue, cheeks and gums.
Another detrimental effect of smoking is that it dries out oral tissues. In fact, smoking is said to be the fastest way to dry out your mouth. By reducing mouth moisture, it diminishes the washing and buffering effect of saliva on oral bacteria and their waste products.
Still another disadvantage of smoking is that smokers are more likely to develop gum (or periodontal) disease than those who don’t smoke. Reportedly, most, if not all, smokers have some form of periodontal disease.
There are many causes of bad breath , and smoking is definitely one of them. The only way to eliminate a smoker's bad breath is to stop smoking.
If you have any comments or questions about this article, or about bad breath or dental health, please post them. We check this site daily.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Gum Disease Can Cause Bad Breath
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a bacterial infection found in the tissues surrounding the teeth. If left unchecked, this disease can seriously damage the bone that holds the teeth in place. As this bone damage occurs, it produces spaces between the teeth and gums that are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria to flourish.
These spaces or “periodontal pockets” are often too deep for people to effectively cleanse, so they easily become a source of a person’s bad breath.
Signs of this disease include red or swollen gums, loose teeth, bleeding gums, pus, and pain on chewing. There is no known cure for periodontal disease.
Once we pass the age of 35, we become more prone to getting gum disease, so regular visits to the dentist become more important.
Gum disease is one of many different causes for bad breath, but it is not the major cause. To learn more about gum disease as well as the major cause of bad breath and how best to cure it, go to best halitosis cure .
These spaces or “periodontal pockets” are often too deep for people to effectively cleanse, so they easily become a source of a person’s bad breath.
Signs of this disease include red or swollen gums, loose teeth, bleeding gums, pus, and pain on chewing. There is no known cure for periodontal disease.
Once we pass the age of 35, we become more prone to getting gum disease, so regular visits to the dentist become more important.
Gum disease is one of many different causes for bad breath, but it is not the major cause. To learn more about gum disease as well as the major cause of bad breath and how best to cure it, go to best halitosis cure .
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Tips For Overcoming Bad Breath
Eat parsley. Chew on a fresh parsley sprig after meals as needed. It’s high in chlorophyll (the chemical that gives plants their green color), and is known as a powerful breath freshener. In fact, some natural breath fresheners contain parsley oil as a main ingredient.
Drink or chew chlorophyll. In addition to eating parsley, you might want to try the bottled “green” drinks containing spirulina, wheat grass, chlorella, and other herbs. These drinks, rich in chlorophyll, are most effective when swished around the mouth before swallowing. Or, you might want to chew spirulina tablets. Be sure to chew thoroughly.
Chew sugarless gum. Chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating can help freshen your breath as well as prevent tooth decay. The chewing stimulates saliva production and freshens your breath because it oxygenates the mouth, aids in removing food debris, and removes odor causing bacteria. The best sugarless gums contain oxygenating agents to release oxygen into your mouth and Xylitol, a natural anti-decay compound and sweetening agent.
Bad breath is something we all want to avoid, especially in social circles or when we are intimate with that special someone. If you are serious about curing your bad breath, check out the best bad breath cure.
Drink or chew chlorophyll. In addition to eating parsley, you might want to try the bottled “green” drinks containing spirulina, wheat grass, chlorella, and other herbs. These drinks, rich in chlorophyll, are most effective when swished around the mouth before swallowing. Or, you might want to chew spirulina tablets. Be sure to chew thoroughly.
Chew sugarless gum. Chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating can help freshen your breath as well as prevent tooth decay. The chewing stimulates saliva production and freshens your breath because it oxygenates the mouth, aids in removing food debris, and removes odor causing bacteria. The best sugarless gums contain oxygenating agents to release oxygen into your mouth and Xylitol, a natural anti-decay compound and sweetening agent.
Bad breath is something we all want to avoid, especially in social circles or when we are intimate with that special someone. If you are serious about curing your bad breath, check out the best bad breath cure.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Comments, Questions Welcome
Your comments or questions are welcome as they pertain to dental health. You are invited to address your concerns about bad breath (also called halitosis), the types and causes of bad breath, and how best to cure yourself of it, how to prevent or treat gum disease, how to avoid tooth enamel erosion, what to do in the event of dental emergencies, how to properly brush & floss, and so on.
For a detailed explanation of bad breath, its causes, and the best medically sound treatment, as well as many other dental health issues, check out best halitosis cure .
For a detailed explanation of bad breath, its causes, and the best medically sound treatment, as well as many other dental health issues, check out best halitosis cure .
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tooth Enamel Erosion On The Rise
Dental erosion -- the irreversible destruction of the hard enamel surface of the tooth -- appears to have become a growing problem.
Most people don't notice it early on because it causes no pain or sensitivity. The only indication that dental erosion is occurring is the smooth, shiny appearance to the enamel. As the problem progesses, the teeth become unattractive. And once the enamel wears away, it cannot be replaced.
The only way you can correct dental erosion is to have a crown put on or to undergo restoration of your teeth -- both of which are very expensive.
So what causes dental erosion?
The main contributors to the problem are acidic soft drinks along with some sports drinks, citrus fruits and fruit juices, wine, salad dressings, and some herbal teas. Even some Mexican food products -- flavored beer salt, candies, powders and pastes, particularly the Lucas brand -- are very high in acidic content.
Tooth enamel starts to break down when the pH level is 5.5. In fact, the lower the pH, the more acidic the drink. The pH of Coca-Cola or Sprite, for instance, is in the neighborhood of 2.7. Orange juice is about 3.8. Lucas is 2 to 3. In comparison, battery acid is 1.
Can tooth brushing help?
Don't brush your teeth immediately after consuming acidic foods or drinking acidic beverages. If the acid is on your teeth and you brush soon after eating or drinking something acidic, you only worsen the damage.
Instead, rinse your mouth first, then wait half an hour or more before brushing to prevent damage. A fluoride mouth rinse is best, although rinsing with milk or water, especially fluoridated water, will help neutralize the acid.
There are also other things that can cause dental erosion. Gastric reflux and bulima, which expose the teeth to stomach acid, can be harmful. Long-term aspirin therapy can erode the teeth...as well as professional wine tasting and competitive swimming in highly chlorinated pools.
If this article was of interest, you can find a lot more helpful dental health tips at best halitosis cure , including the best way to overcome embarrassing bad breath.
Most people don't notice it early on because it causes no pain or sensitivity. The only indication that dental erosion is occurring is the smooth, shiny appearance to the enamel. As the problem progesses, the teeth become unattractive. And once the enamel wears away, it cannot be replaced.
The only way you can correct dental erosion is to have a crown put on or to undergo restoration of your teeth -- both of which are very expensive.
So what causes dental erosion?
The main contributors to the problem are acidic soft drinks along with some sports drinks, citrus fruits and fruit juices, wine, salad dressings, and some herbal teas. Even some Mexican food products -- flavored beer salt, candies, powders and pastes, particularly the Lucas brand -- are very high in acidic content.
Tooth enamel starts to break down when the pH level is 5.5. In fact, the lower the pH, the more acidic the drink. The pH of Coca-Cola or Sprite, for instance, is in the neighborhood of 2.7. Orange juice is about 3.8. Lucas is 2 to 3. In comparison, battery acid is 1.
Can tooth brushing help?
Don't brush your teeth immediately after consuming acidic foods or drinking acidic beverages. If the acid is on your teeth and you brush soon after eating or drinking something acidic, you only worsen the damage.
Instead, rinse your mouth first, then wait half an hour or more before brushing to prevent damage. A fluoride mouth rinse is best, although rinsing with milk or water, especially fluoridated water, will help neutralize the acid.
There are also other things that can cause dental erosion. Gastric reflux and bulima, which expose the teeth to stomach acid, can be harmful. Long-term aspirin therapy can erode the teeth...as well as professional wine tasting and competitive swimming in highly chlorinated pools.
If this article was of interest, you can find a lot more helpful dental health tips at best halitosis cure , including the best way to overcome embarrassing bad breath.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Some Bad Breath Caused By Stomach Bug
If you have chronic bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis, that you just can't get rid of there is a possibility it's caused by a stomach infection with H. pylori bacteria. This is NOT a common cause of bad breath. Nonetheless, if you have persistent foul mouth odor and you've tried several things to eliminate it but can't, then this is something you might want to check out.
Nobel laureate Barry Marshall reported many years ago that some people can get stomach ulcers from the bacterium Helicobactor pylori. He also stated that these germs may be responsible for some hard-to-treat cases of bad breath.
If you suffer from gastritis as well as chronic bad breath, then you should see your doctor to determine if this bacteria might be causing your bad breath. He can do a blood test to determine if this bacterium is present in your stomach. If so, he can then prescribe a regimen of medications to rid the stomach of this bug...and eliminate your bad breath.
For more extensive information about bad breath causes, the best cure (based on medical research), and natural aids for a fresher breath, check out best halitosis cure.
Nobel laureate Barry Marshall reported many years ago that some people can get stomach ulcers from the bacterium Helicobactor pylori. He also stated that these germs may be responsible for some hard-to-treat cases of bad breath.
If you suffer from gastritis as well as chronic bad breath, then you should see your doctor to determine if this bacteria might be causing your bad breath. He can do a blood test to determine if this bacterium is present in your stomach. If so, he can then prescribe a regimen of medications to rid the stomach of this bug...and eliminate your bad breath.
For more extensive information about bad breath causes, the best cure (based on medical research), and natural aids for a fresher breath, check out best halitosis cure.
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