Guys, I need your honest help and opinions

[Malika1]

Hey!
I came across this site loking for a potential cure to my bad breath, because i've had it for YEARS.
At first i never even knew my bad breath existed... until one kid came up to me in class when i was 13 and told me infront of everyone; 'YOUR BREATH STINKS!'
I was confused. I always thought my breath was fine, and i just decided to brush my teeth extra hard and use mouthwash that night, and everything would be fine the next day, but that was not the case.
Its funny, i remember when i was younger i'd ask my mother why my tongue was white, yet everybody elses would be pink and glistening. She said it was because i was 'special', and because i was nieve, i believed her. However i didnt know it was my white tongue that was causing me to have such nasty breath.
For years i've tried using therabreath, smartmouth, breathrx, countless different mouthwashes and toothpastes, and even different diets, however it made no difference, and in some cases, it made it even worse :/
However i have found that probiotics have some help to me. I used GUM probiotics for a month, and for about a week my breath was much fresher, however when i stopped using it, my breath went back to the way it normally is, and it started to get worse when i went on my periods.
To be honest i will say my breath is better than it was due to the fact that I brush my teeth much more thoroughly, and i also floss and clean my tongue, but it still hasnt cured it 100%.. probably only about 20%.
What i'm asking from you guys is that you can help me find a good cure. something natural, and something i know that will cure my breath completly, even if its not 100%, but enough to help me regulate it and help it not smell bad on a regular basis.
I'm not only doing this for me though... i'm doing this for my boyfriend too.. i mean i know he's supportive about helping me cure this, but the least i can do for him is to have fresh enough breath to kiss him and talk to him without him suffering everytime
Thank you guys, and i would like to also hear your stories and experiences.

[Phantasist]

Malika1,

The fact that you have a white coating on your tongue (as many of us have) is probably a clue as to what is wrong. I have found that the coating itself does not have an odor, but it seems to form a protective layer for the anaerobic bacteria that live on the surface of the tongue. These bacteria produce the volatile sulphur compounds that cause a bad odor. Normal saliva contains several antibacterial substances which keep the anaerobes in check, however, the white tongue coating keeps the saliva from coming in direct contact with the anaerobic bacteria.

Scraping off the coating and brushing the tongue with an antibacterial toothpaste and using an antibacterial rinse helps me for a few hours, but the white coating always comes back.

The question then becomes: what is causing the white coating? There seem to be two main areas that are suspect. The sinuses and the intestines. Do you have sinus trouble that is putting an excessive amount of post nasal drip on to the back of your tongue? Or do you have any kind of digestive (intestinal) distress? If you have symptoms in those areas, it would give you an idea as to what is causing the white coating. It is very likely that if the underlying problem that is causing the tongue coating is not cured, the tongue coating will always come back no matter how many times you scrape it off. Most toothpastes and mouthwashes make the problem worse because they contain sweetening agents to make them taste better.

All of the above assumes that the problem is not in the mouth itself, such as gum disease or infected tonsils.

(There are plenty of our stories and experiences in many posts going back several years)

[halitosisux]

Milaki, first and foremost, make sure there are absolutely no doubts regarding your teeth and gums. If your dentist says everything is ok but you have areas of doubt regarding your gums then it might be worth investing in an oral irrigator, such as a WaterPic. Read through Searching's posts. If you have any dodgy fillings or crowns or bridges or other such repairs, then ask your dentist to scrutinze them thoroughly. Perhaps get an opinion from another dentist if you still have doubts. Try to find the courage to mention your BB to your dentist. Areas of doubt have far more chance of being dealt with if you do mention BB than if you dont. Dont let them sell you any fresh breath kits.

If your BB is clearly coming from your nose then that makes it much less likely that the source of the problem is in your mouth. See an ENT to rule out any obvious problems and read Vicksters recent posts. If your tonsils smell and you have tonsil stones, dont be tempted at this stage to have your tonsils removed. The chances are your tonsils smell as a result of your BB and not vice versa.

Your odour could be coming from your lungs or the passages that lead to the lungs or the stomach. Get these checked out.

Ask your doctor for blood tests to check the functioning of your liver, kidneys, thyroid etc. Make sure you are not suffering from any vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Dont go on any type of diets, particularly candida diets. Eat a healthy balanced diet. Make sure you are always well hydrated. You dont want to be throwing in any other unneccessary variables into the equation.

Ask your doctor to perform any tests to rule out any type of parasitic infections and ask for a helicobacter pylori test.

Try HCL/digestive enzymes for a few weeks to see if they have any effect. Probiotics, both which are designed to be swallowed and ones which are designed for the oral flora, may be worth investigating.

Try not to do more than one thing at a time or you could easily miss the things that are making a true difference.

Focus your attention on finding the root cause of your problem, not on remedies that ultimately work for nobody. If you choose to use mouthwashes and tongue scrapers which do nothing to help promote a balanced oral microbial flora, then your fight against any tongue coatings will become nothing but a vicious circle.

Lastly (or perhaps firstly if you live in the UK where its a free test) you should consider a test for TMAU.

Best of luck.

[Malika1]

I have been very interested in finding out about which probiotics work for me... Ive heard about these lactobacillus probiotics, however I don't know which one will help the most., is is all about trial and error or are there some you know of that can improve the amount of good bacteria in my mouth and digestive system, cuz I've also tried using yoghurt that has probiotics, but that doesn't work either :/

[Phantasist]

Malika1,

Any good probiotic pill would have a number of different beneficial bacteria in it.

But keep in mind probiotics will only be of benefit if you have too much of the wrong kind of bacteria in the intestines. And probiotics do not kill bad bacteria. You would have to take something like Pepto Bismol or Bentonite Clay or a doctor's prescription to kill off the bad bugs. And of course for intestinal health, it would make sense to cut out sugar and softdrinks and to eat food that produces more roughage (vegetables and fruit and anything with lots of fibre). To bring about an improvement takes time and a little effort.

All this assumes that the underlying problem is in the intestines. You haven't told us about any other symptoms besides the coated tongue. As Halitosisux mentioned, there could be a number of other causes for your bad breath.

[ilovemytwix]

U NEED YOUR PROBIOTICS TO BE IN EITHER POWDER OR CHEWABLE FORM, PREFEREABLE BOTH, SO IT CAN HELP YOUR MOUTH!!!

[Malika1]

I've heard about bentonite clay too and I'm very interested in using it, but is it safe? And will it affect any hormonal balances in my body? I think a combo of the clay and the probiotics should help me out, but I'd also need advice on the amount I should take... What does the clay actually do to the body to improve your breath?

[Phantasist]

Malika1,

Bentonite Clay is a simple but effective internal cleanser. Taken internally, liquid Bentonite Clay supports the digestive system. When Bentonite Clay absorbs water, it swells up and becomes like a sponge, thereby soaking up toxins, heavy metals and even some parasites. In this way, it carries irritants in the gastrointestinal tract out of the body. Bentonite Clay is inert, so it goes right through your body without affecting any organs. Therefore there shouldn't be any side effects.
The best way to take it is between meals. It can be taken with juice or applesauce and of course water to allow it to expand. Bentonite Clay can come in gel, capsule or powder form.

Instead of Bentonite Clay, you could also try Pepto Bismol, which contains Bismuth Subsalicylate and has the ability to kill bacteria in the intestinal tract. At the same time, you should be taking probiotics, because usually when something kills the bad bacteria it also kills the good ones that are necessary. (If you have a serious bacterial intestinal overgrowth, you would need a prescription drug from a doctor.)

As I said before, an adjustment to the diet helps with any digestive problem. No sugar or sugary softdrinks, more vegetables, more fiber, small portions of meat. Apples or applesauce is good because of Pectin. Papaya is good because of the digestive enzyme Papain.

Again I have to emphasize that this would only help if your bad breath is due to a digestive problem in the intestines. If you really have a gastrointestinal problem, then you would have some symptoms such as bloating, abdominal discomfort, loose or watery stools, swinging back and forth from diarrhea to constipation. On the other hand, if your bowel movements are perfect, then you would be advised to look for the source of your bad breath elsewhere. Hope this helps.

[compor]

Again I have to emphasize that this would only help if your bad breath is due to a digestive problem in the intestines. If you really have a gastrointestinal problem, then you would have some symptoms such as bloating, abdominal discomfort, loose or watery stools, swinging back and forth from diarrhea to constipation. On the other hand, if your bowel movements are perfect, then you would be advised to look for the source of your bad breath elsewhere. Hope this helps.

Phantasist, you mentioned all my symptoms above. I was about to start taking chewable and powder type probiotics hoping that it would help with my bacterial imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract. After reading your post, I believe I should take bentonite clay as well.

Would you recommend these with bentonite clay:
http://www.drugstore.com/gnc-natural-br ... /qxp224122
http://naturalfactors.com/ca/en/product ... tic-powder

Thanks in advance

[Phantasist]

Compor,

I cannot recommend the probiotics on the websites you mentioned because I have never used those. And I don't know if chewable probiotics or in powder form can make it into the intestines without being destroyed by the stomach acid.

The ones I have been taking are called Probiotic Advantage. They are tiny little pearls (beadlets) that are coated so that they can make it into the intestinal tract, otherwise they would be useless. I get them by mailorder from Healthy Directions (drdavidwilliams.com).

I also take TrueLife PB Probiotic and Prebiotic Blend (30 billion cells per dose), but I don't know if they are as good.

About a year ago I noticed I had watery stools, and I became very worried about it. I started taking probiotics and soon there was a big improvement.

The last few weeks I started doing some additional things because I suspected that the white coating on my tongue was due to faulty digestion. And I further suspected that the tongue coating was a protective layer for the anaerobic bacteria that live on the surface of the tongue. It is known that normal saliva contains several antibacterial substances, but if the saliva doesn't come into direct contact with the anaerobes, it can't be effective in controlling the anaerobes.

So this is what I do: I take a swallow of Pepto Bismol on an empty stomach (Bismuth kills intestinal bacteria - but you shouldn't do this for more than two weeks). I take the probiotics to introduce the good bacteria into the intestines. (Probiotics do not have any antibacterial action because they are themselves bacteria)
I eat foods that contain fiber such as vegetables (small portions of meat) and drink a little more water than usual to allow the fiber to expand to aid the peristaltic action in the colon. That way some of the toxic impactations along the colon walls get pushed out.
I have cut down on anything that contains sugar, because sugar feeds bacteria.
And I eat a slice of papaya every day because papaya contains papain, which helps you digest the nutrients from all the other food you eat. (Apples are also very good because of pectin)

This is not a strict diet at all. Basically I still eat anything I want to eat.

I have noticed lately that my bowel movements have improved 100%. In addition to feeling a lot better, I have also noticed that the white coating on my tongue has diminished, and so has the odor on my breath. I can only assume that the microfloral balance in my intestines is improving, and if it continues to improve, this might be the ACTUAL CURE for my bad breath, not just a temporary cover-up. I will intensify my efforts in this area.

A couple of more thoughts: If the problem is intestinal, there is no magic bullet that will cure you overnight. It takes time and a little effort. If you have a serious small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, you most likely would need an antibiotic such as metronidazole (doctor's prescription). And of course, everything I've said wouldn't apply if you have a serious medical condition such as colon cancer (God forbid!).

[Had enough]

Newbie here, I can't believe I found this site, so knowledgeable, I think some of us know more about halitosis than some dentists out there! So I guess I started noticing my own bad breath shortly after I had my last son, say roughly 5 years ago, it has slowly gotten worse over the last 2 years!
My problem is that I am a hairstylist, so constantly around people in close proximity......and I am at the point where I want to quit what I love because of my bad breath.......no one has ever said anything to me about it, thank god because that would be soo embarassing, but I notice it and yes my tounge is a lovely shade of white!

I try not to attend functions where there will be lots of people, I stay in my car when picking up my kids instead of joining conversations with other parents, I'm sure they think I'm a snob! When I'm at work I try not to eat cause then My breath will be worse, I am holding my breath while I wash my clients hair, telling them that I hope they don't mind if I work on them quietly so their hair gets my full concentration! Constantly chewing mints or gum, gum I don't think does a whole lot for me!
I have, tried different toothpastes & mouthwashes, peroxide( I think made it worse), breath pearls, I am currently using TheraBreath toothpaste and mouth rinse, using my tounge scraper, popping mints left right and centre........what a expensive regimen.......Today I went out and bought ACIDOPHILUS with BIFIDUS and FOS ,6 billion, so here is what I have done.......took my probiotics before eating,.scraped my tounge , put lemon juice on brush side of tounge scraper and went to town......then brushed with therabreath toothpaste, gargled with therabreath mouthwash and off to work I will go, let's see if this helps! Please let me know if there is anything else I should do!!!

[compor]

Great information Phantasist,

I'm glad that you are getting better. Hope you will get rid of it completely.

After reading your post, I think it's best to see a good G.I. specialist and get some tests done, to confirm that my problems are intestinal (although I'm 95% sure). I used metronidazole a few months ago, best 2 weeks of my life.

Take care, I will let you know how it goes with the doc.

[WickedCurse]

Hmm, this is a really good thread. The admin should make this STICKY because a lot of people can benefit from this.

If you've ready any of my posts, you'd know I'm trying to narrow down the source of my BB.

Theory #1

I still need to go see my dentist and see if there is anything wrong with my mouth. For all I know, it could be some sort of an infection, gum disease, gingivitis, candida infection, or maybe I need some dental work like removing my wisdom teeth. I know the member, "Halitosisux" had his BB problem cured when he removed his wisdom tooth... simple as that!

Theory #2

I never gave PND any thought before because I never thought my breath had any foul odors when I exhaled through my nose. The other day, I was rubbing my nose (nostrils) with the back of my hand because of an itch, and I noticed there was an odor left on the back of my hand after the rubbing. I tried it with the other hand and again that same odor was there. This, coupled with my realization that I've always felt like I have mucus at the back of my throat and have this need to clear my throat a lot, has gotten me to think that maybe I have post nasal drip. Could it be? Is post nasal drip caused by sinus problems?

Theory # 3

Back in my home country, I had to get blood transfusion a few times because I have a blood disorder (Hemophilia). As a result, and due to the fact that donated blood was never checked for diseases, I contracted Hepatitis C. When I came to this country, I was diagnosed with it and about 8-9 years ago, I was put through an experimental drug. After the 3 months of treatment and many many post-experimental tests, my liver doctor concluded that my Hepatitis C is no longer 'active.' Hepatitis attacks your liver and makes it malfunction.

Now, I've read in a few places that some people can have bad breath due to liver damage (cirrhosis of the liver). IF this is the case for me, I will have to sit down and have a long talk with my liver doctor, whom I have an appointment with this August.


Theory #4

Gastrointestinal problems.

Phantasist mentioned how gastrointestinal problems can definitely cause BB. For me, I'm not exactly sure what symptoms of gastrointestinal problems I have.

- My stool is generally on the runny/watery side. However, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, it's a little on the hard side.

- Around half the time, I have an urge to go use the bathroom for #2 ten to fifteen minutes after I have eaten a meal. When this happens, my stool is always watery and there is a lot of gas/bloating.

- I do not suffer from heart-burns.

Is there a correlation between the odor of your stool and the odor of your bad breath? IF so, does this mean that your BB is caused by gastrointestinal problems?

After I floss and brush my teeth, I'll be lucky to be bad breath-free for maybe 5 minutes. My gums look pink and healthy and after I clean my tongue, I don't get a white layer like some of you describe. At times, even at the end of my day, my tongue is mostly pink.

However, when my BB returns after 5 minutes of relief, my mouth starts to taste kind of rotten/sour. As if there is a chemical reaction going on in my mouth mold is growing (though I don't feel anything physically growing).

The products I have used...

- Probiotics (pill form) very briefly and gave up prematurely out of frustration that it wasn't working.

- OraMD was somewhat promising, but I felt like it was just masking my BB with its super strong mint taste and smell. Plus, they recommend that you give up using toothpastes and just brush your teeth with OraMD. The only problem is that it's so problematic brushing your teeth with something that is in a complete liquid form. I felt like it wasn't cleaning my teeth sufficiently.

- What has worked out the most for me so far has been flossing my teeth, then brushing my teeth, then rinsing my mouth with Orazyme mouthwash (apparently it has enzymes that only attack bad bacteria and leave the good bacteria alone). With this routine, I can have my BB reduced to about 20% as long as I don't eat ANYTHING. As soon as I eat any kind of food, I have to redo my whole routine again to get back down to 20%.

[halitosisux]

wickedcurse, I think its quite normal for nostrils to produce a small amount of their own odour from time to time. Here we have stagnating mucus exposed to every kind of bacteria. What you could try is something called Bactroban. Its an antibiotic cream and if you have scabbing or a hair follicle which has become infected in some way, this should stop the odour. If the odour doesnt stop then it could be something deeper in the nose, like Vickster has had treatment for.

I seriously do not think that clear odourless PND can be a cause of BB. But, if there are other underlying causes of BB then excessive mucus is likely to exacerbate this. If the mucus that drips down the back of your throat isnt clear or odourless then it could well cause BB.

Many of our enzymes are produced by the liver. Our liver is like a chemical factory. There are many possible ways in which the liver could throw your body chemistry and cause any type of BB. It's even possible that your odour is TMAU related and caused by your liver's inability to produce the enzymes which normally prevent TMA (or other foul chemicals) from building up in the bloodstream. I wonder if you spoke about it with your doctor whether they'll be willing to look into it further for you.

Have you been tested for parasites?

Does your tongue actually smell if you rub your finger over it, or are you only sensing the bad tastes in your mouth?

[Malika1]

[quote="Had enough"]Newbie

.... I totally understand what you go through, I have to go through the same thing all the time! However, remember that therabrearh won't cure ur bad breath because as soon as ur off them ur bb will flare up again.., trust me I've tried them, and they'd only work for two hours tops! That's why I'm trying to find a more natural cure, so I can make sure when I'm cured, I don't have to rely on any expensive drugs or products to maintain my my breath again..Except for probiotics, because I know it has no side affects and it will help my body... Does anyone have a link to a reliable drug store that stocks bentonite clay??? also how much should I consume per day?